Authoritarian countries are not for Olympic Games

Dear ladies and gentlemen,

Undoubtedly, many of what you will read below, is well known to you. But it seems like not everything, if you made a decision to hold first European Olympic Games in authoritarian Azerbaijan, where all basic human rights and democratic freedom are being violated.

Olympic Games were established in ancient Greece: first authentic Olympic Games took place in 776  B C  in Olympia city. The distinctive feature of these games were that during Olympic Games all wars and conflicts were prohibited on the territory of ancient Greece and the month of peace was announced . Besides, it was prohibited to enter the city with any weapon.

During Olympic Games not only sportsmen competed, but from different parts of Greece prominent philosophers, writers and scientists arrived to Olympia.

But the main thing is that Olympic Games for ancient Greeks were not only the sports competition, but also they created atmosphere of tolerance and friendship. As every in the beginning five years, and later on every four years games allowed Greeks meet regularly, to talk, to realize cultural exchange, in general to see, that in front of you as insisted by propaganda not “Low enemy” from hatred Sparta or Athens is standing, but friendly fellow with a lovely smile.

That is to say, that Olympic Games contributed in breaking the image of enemy.  After all, this is more important than anything in the case of communication of nations with each other!

Prohibited in 394 Olympic Games were recommenced again in 1896. International Olympic Committee was organized to hold Olympic Games .

However, already in XX century the main principle –tolerance, peace adherence- of Olympiad, started being violated. In 1936, already after fascist came to power, Olympic Games were held in Berlin. Just during these games, Nazi took away anti Jews and other racists’ slogans from the streets of Berlin. Only after World War II International Olympic Committee politics in 1930s  was recognized as fallacious, and International Olympic Committee apologized publicly.

However not even half a century passed that International Olympic Committee makes a decision to hold XXII Olympic Games in Moscow in 1980.  Sixty four countries worldwide boycotted  holding Olympiad in Moscow as the sign of the protest against pursuit of soviet dissidents and for the restriction to Jews to leave USSR and for entering of Soviet army into Afghanistan on December 1979.

Soviet Union was evenly proud of this victory over the ideas of peace and tolerance, which lies at core of Olympic Games. Namely, this absolute unintelligibility of International Olympic Committee inspired dictator Ilham Aliyev to hold the first European Games in authoritarian Azerbaijan.

It may be that you really don’t know what crimes are conducted by the authoritarian Aliyev regime in Azerbaijan?  Then read attentively about the violations of all basic human rights in the modern Azerbaijan.

 Right to life

I shall bring as an example the story of only one family, which is so typical for established in the country criminal mafia regime that displays in the whole the rights of our citizens for a life.

Professor – linguist Novruzali Mamedov – the senior scientific worker in Institute of Science of Language by Azerbaijan Academy Science, the only in the country scientist-linguist on Talish nation – national minority in the republic, the editor of the sole in Azerbaijan newspaper in Talish language “Voice of Talish”, the author of sole Talish-Azerbaijan-Russian dictionary.

The workers of Ministry of National Security (MNS) detained him on February 2007; for several days his family did not have any information about him and his whereabouts. All this time, investigators of MNS tortured him, demanding his confession in treachery of his Motherland and working for Iranian secret service.

Despite of broken ribs and clavicle, 69 years old professor did not “confess” in treachery. His oldest son – candidate of mathematical studies- Kamran was taking products to his father to the investigatory jail. Every time after handling over the products, the workers of MNS  in civilian clothes were snatching Kamran and taking him by the car to the suburbs where they were beating him fiercely.

On September 2007, after another beating, Kamran returned home all covered in blood, and after several hours he died. There was neither examination regarding the causes of death, nor criminal case on Kamran death in result of beating.

Novruzali Mamedov continued to deny his connection with Iran intelligence. And then,  MNS arrested his youngest son Emil. Drugs were just put furtively to him – something common to do in order to detain and accusation of dissidents in modern Azerbaijan. Investigators blackmailed professor with freedom and health of Emil.

However professor Novruzali Mamedov stated with the fortitude on the court that he had not betrayed his motherland, and if he is judged for his affiliation to the Talish nation, then he is proud both of his Motherland Azerbaijan and his nation. He was  sentenced for 10 years in prison, and his son was sentenced conditionally.

On February 2009, Novruzali Mamedov was transferred to the colony, where his tortures continued and in the result he died in prison in August 2009.

On September 2009, on the 40th day after the death of Novruzali Mamedov, his widow and the youngest son Emil were heading to the graveyard by car. Emil was behind the wheel when the truck hit their small car and the youngest son died after couple of months.

Our Institute for Peace and Democracy (IPD) starting from the first days of arrest of Novruzali Mamedov has been informing society about the destruction of professor and his sons.

Prohibition of torture

I will not bring all statistics of death in the result of the tortures in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ministry of National Security investigatory jails (in year from 8 to 12 persons), statistics of non-battle loss in army (in a year the tormented to death in the result of tortures sums up to 80 persons).

Tortures are the primary method of conducting investigation and the main method in knocking out testimonies in Azerbaijan. Namely, this is why, when the cases on especially grave crimes (terrorism, coup d’etat) are falsified against the whole group, as the rule, one or two from the group of 10-16 persons die during the investigation period in the result of torture. I shall bring only one example, so the methods of investigation in Azerbaijan will be clear.

Eleven people (Emin Mamedov, Said Dadashbeyli, Rashad Aliyev, Mikayil Idrisov, Jeyhun Aliev, Jahangir Kerimov, Emil Mehbaliyev, Farid Agayev, Samir Hojayev, Beybala Kuliyev and Rasim Kerimov) were arrested in Baku on January 13, 2007. They were simply kidnapped from public places without any explanation by the men in civilian clothes.

“Investigation” continued for 6 month, during this time none of the accused was brought to the court for indictment, legalization of approval for the arrest, pronouncement of court decision for taking under custody during investigation period. For the first time, only after 8 months after their arrest, on September 17, 2007 accused were conveyed to the court. To all mentioned persons a charge in organizing of criminal community with the purpose of power seizure, coup d’etat and etc. was brought against.

Each one under investigation without exception received heavy damage to health, and one of under investigation, Emin Mamedov died under tortures.

During questioning Ministry of National Security  investigator Sahib Alekperov brought separately each of the accused in one of the MNS’s rooms, turned on TV and showed the video recording of Emin Mamedov’s questioning, who was fiercely tortured.

By showing this record, Sahib Alekperov pointed out simultaneously to other accused that the same thing will happen to them if they refuse to give needed for investigation testimonies. Investigator Sahib Alekperov stated straightly that Emin Mamedov will not survive. On March 2007 Emin Mamedov dies from tortures.

At the trial it was not mentioned at all, about tortured to death Emin Mammedov. He disappeared without a trace for the court and society.

Even though neither of brought charges was proved, survivors received sentence from 12 to 14 years in prison.

Namely, IPD conducted investigation of this case and included the names of innocently convicted in the list of prisoners of conscience

Human trafficking

In 2009 I published research, by using investigation protocols originals regarding the participation of high ranked Ministry of Internal Affairs officers in human trafficking on the example of kidnapping of underage (7-14 years old) Mejidov sisters, which was organized by the chief of police in Davachi district in Azerbaijan and his deputy.

None of the police officers were brought to the investigation, and IPD had undergone severe pressure: Minister of Internal Affairs filed a case against me, accusing me in slander; there was a try to kidnap the woman- worker of IPD. In the result of the support of International Community Minister withdrew his lawsuit, and my daughter and the family of IPD worker received asylum in Europe.

Property Right

In 2009-2011 more than 60 thousands Baku residents were illegally deprived of their apartments and houses.  Thousands of Baku residents were deprived of their houses, they turned into the victims of Eurovision song contest that was held in Baku.

IPD conducted research " Corruption as Constituent in Violation of Property Right by Executive Agencies” and addressed it to president Ilham Aliyev who calls citizens to fight against corruption and inform about all well-known facts of corruption. Results of research were also published in Mass Media: http://ft.contact.az/en/?cat=7

 On August 10, 2011 my interview was published in “New York Times”. And the following day on August 11, 2011 Yunus family house - where IPD office, office of Women Crisis Center (WCC) and Azerbaijan Company to Ban Landmines (ACBL) were situated - was demolished by bulldozer with all belongings inside. Here is the video of demolishing of the office:

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/08/12/world/asia/100000000996216/a-building-is-bulldozed-in-azerbaijan.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/13/world/asia/13azerbaijan.html?scp=1&sq=Leyla%20Yunus&st=cse

On the threshold of holding European Games in Baku in 2015, about 80 thousands of properties in the capital are planned to be illegally demolished. Demolition of the houses has already begun.

Right to a fair trial

During his speech on January 15, 2014 in Brussels and on June 24, 2014 in Strasbourg president Ilham Aliyev stated that there are not political prisoners in Azerbaijan.

This statement completely contradicts the reality. To July 25 2014 there are 43 “prisoners of conscience” and 68 political prisoners in Azerbaijan.

Institute for Peace and Democracy constantly updates the list of victims of political repressions, which is always available in English language on the website  http://ft.contact.az/en/?p=155

Events in Ukraine, which attracted the USA and EU most attention to it, gave the opportunity to Aliyev authoritarian regime to begin the full elimination of remained in Azerbaijan Independent NGOs and Mass Media. Among the “prisoners of conscience” in the list of IPD are:

-12 journalists and bloggers including the editor of the sole newspaper in language of Talish national minorities  "Voice of Talish” Xilal Mamedov, journalist of "Eni Musavat" newspaper Tofiq Yaqublu (his daughter is also convicted), the prominent journalist of Azerbaijan, laureate of Gerd Bucerius award Rauf Mirkadirov, bloggers Rashad Ramazanov, Abdul Abilov, Omar Mamedov and etc.

-6 human rights defenders, including Anar Mamedli and Bashir Suleymanli, leaders of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center, who revealed serious evidence of falsification (including video reports) during president election in October 9, 2013.

-11 young activists , the majority of which were educated in USA and EU countries, including 8 members of youth movement NIDA. They were exposed to torture and inhuman treatment during their arrest and investigation period.

- 2 leaders of opposition: Ilqar Mamedov leader of REAL movement and Yadigar Sadiqov chairman council at “Musavat” party

Namely, the total absence of independent judicial system in Azerbaijan deprived citizens of their rights to a fair trail and every dissident runs risk to be convicted on political order. 

 Right to liberty and security

Impediment for peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict. Stimulation of interethnic and interconfessional discord.

In Ancient Greece organizers of Olympic Games understood, how important is to establish the peace and common understanding, and how it is necessary to destroy image of enemy.

Today You forgot about it! Otherwise how could You decide to hold European Games in the country, where not only on hourly basis the propaganda on enemy image is taken place on neighbor level, but president himself sounds calls for the war, but also the activists of peace movement, participants of public diplomacy are exposed to the repression, torment, and arrest.

About this is written daily in world press. Here is the small list of latest European publications:

 1.http://platformlondon.org/2014/07/10/all-that-glitters-azerbaijan-and-the-olympics/

 2.http://www.neues-deutschland.de/artikel/938789.leyla-yunus-sieht-sich-bedroht.html

 3.http://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2014/05/13/leyla-yunus-rare-voix-dissidente-dans-l-azerbaidjan-du-clan-aliev_4415842_3210.html

 4.http://www.afp.eu/fr/info/azerbaidjan-une-militante-des-droits-de-lhomme-interpellee-avocat

5.http://www.huffingtonpost.fr/jeanluc-bennahmias/azerbaidjan-chasse-democrates-paix_b_5271985.html

6.http://www.tv5.org/cms/chaine-francophone/info/p-1911-Une-journaliste-franco-russe-interdite-d-entree-en-Azerbaidjan.htm?&rub=4&xml=140501134402.28c59wve.xml

7.http://www.lenouvelliste.ch/fr/monde/azerbaidjan-celebre-militante-des-droits-de-l-homme-arretee-481-1287889

8.http://www.lemonde.fr/idees/article/2014/06/23/francois-hollande-la-politique-etrangere-et-les-droits-de-l-homme_4443314_3232.html?xtmc=leyla_yunus&xtcr=1

9. http://www.tol.org/client/article/24361

On April 19, 2014 prominent journalist of Azerbaijan, laureate of Gerd Bucerius award Rauf Mirkadirov was arrested. He was accused in treason of Motherland, espionage on behalf of Armenia. Rauf Mirkadirov participation in joint Azerbaijan - Armenian projects, particularly his participation in the work of the first and unique joint Azerbaijan – Armenian website http://www.publicdialogues.info/

are brought in capacity of evidence of his espionage activity.

The support campaign to Azerbaijan writer Akram Aylisli was  launched on this website. Akram Aylisli was exposed to the strong pressure, including setting on fire his books in public, for his novel “Stone Dreams”, where he  criticizes Armenian massacre and the killing of the people based on their national indication. IPD published the analysis of Azerbaijan school history books at this website, which are built on upbringing the hate for Christians as a whole and Armenians in particular.

On this website, Azerbaijan and Armenian women, together protest against the war and propaganda of the hate for the sake of peaceful future of the kids.

Holding the first in the history European Olympic Games in the modern Azerbaijan, not only contradicts the ideas of peace, humanity, humanism of law triumph and justice.

This is abuse and mockery on the idea of Olympiad itself.

I am calling You to change your decision regarding holding European Olympic Games in Baku.

Freethinking citizens of our country and followers of justice worldwide are starting protest campaign against holding European Olympic Games in the authoritarian covered in blood and tears Azerbaijan.

Dr. Leyla Yunus

Chevalier of the French Legion of Honour

Winner of the International Theodor-Haecker-Prize

Director of the Institute for Peace and Democracy