Press Review 05/10/2016

Evaluation of the socio-economic situation in the country by Ilham Aliyev and Azerbaijan's relations with the West against the background of the problem of political prisoners are the leading themes of today's press.

The site of the Head of State publishes a statement by Ilham Aliyev, who said that in the center of the current government policy there are citizens of Azerbaijan with their immediate problems and safety. Ilham Aliyev said this in his speech on the occasion of the 71^st anniversary of the victory over fascism.

According to him, the country has properly ensured the safety of the citizens, improving their well-being. The Head of State believes that despite the crisis, the country was able to adequately get out of it. The country’s financial situation is stable. The President predicts social and economic success in 2016, naming the national oil strategy successful.

Azadlig has published an article, which calls groundless several statements by Ilham Aliyev in his speech on the occasion of the 71^st anniversary of the victory over fascism and the birth of Heydar Aliyev.

 In particular, it criticizes the statement that if Heydar Aliyev was in power in the early 90s, he would cut the Karabakh knot. The newspaper reminds that six regions of the country were occupied exactly when Heydar Aliyev was in power. It was Heydar Aliyev that eliminated 33 combat battalions, and when he was the President, not an inch of Azerbaijani land was liberated.

Heydar Aliyev has no right to criticize the Popular Front government, which was able to expel the Russian army from Azerbaijan during its one-year activities. The territories of Azerbaijan were lost thanks to the ill-conceived and incompetent policy of Heydar Aliyev and the infamous agreement on cease-fire signed by him, the newspaper says.

Yeni Musavat talks about a possible aggravation of relations between Azerbaijan and the West over detention of the leader of the Movement REAL Ilgar Mamedov.

The expert Natig Miri thinks that efforts to release Ilgar Mamedov will not subside and all measures will be taken for that.

The human rights activist Saida Gojamanli in turn claims that Ilgar Mamedov will be released as soon as possible. However, the Council of Europe concerns remain due to the imprisonment of Khadija Ismayilova and other political prisoners.