Statement by Rasim Balaev contradicts what he wrote to Ilham Aliyev week ago

The Union of Cinematographers (UC) of the country distributed the text of the statement, which was sent on January 10 to President Ilham Aliyev.

This document is signed by Rasim Balaev and other members of the Secretariat of the Union: Anar, Kenan Mammadov, Shamil Najafzadeh, Jamil Faradzhev and Ali Isa Jabbarov.

The text of the appeal says that the attacks on the Union and the pressure on it is not justified and it was hoped that the President would end persecution of the leadership of the Union. The letter pointed out that the UC is not involved in politics and does not intend to do so.

All this is completely contrary to what is written on January 18 in the evening in the statement by Rasim Balaev on his leaving the UC. People, who know him well, guess that a part of the statement made on behalf of Balaev was not written by him. In particular, this includes allegations of UC involvement in politics.

Here is the text of the appeal on January 10:

"Dear Mr. President,

The Union of Cinematographers is 50 years old and its ranks have together 240 people, who have made a considerable contribution to the development of Azerbaijani cinema. However, for several years, some senior officials have held an information and financial war against us. As a result, the UC has lost public support in the implementation of its projects, including the signed decree on establishment of the International School of Cinema.

For three years, the internationally recognized film festival East-West has not been carried out and the land in Bayil allocated for the Union of Cinematographers has been withdrawn.

At the same time, the pro-government press has campaigned blackening the UC. Regularly published are defamatory articles that have nothing to do with the real situation.

The work of our organization is strictly limited to professional interests and the UK has never been in politics and does not intend to do so in the future. Therefore, we do not understand the current aggressive attitude against the Union.

We are convinced that you are falsely informed of the presence of any political ambitions at the Union contrary to our professional activities.

Each member of the Union has his own citizenship, but they are united in the Union only in a professional and creative manner, as our goal is to protect the interests of national cinematography.

Dear Mr. President,

We look to you as the guarantor of our constitutional rights, and ask you to protect us on the issue of seizure of the land in Bayil.

This question has not found the solution in courts. We hope that you will also support the solution of other artificially created problems."

The message was confirmed by the signature of the Secretary of the UC Rasim Balaev on January 10, 2013. -02D-