Breakdown in Talks Sets Stage for New Protests in Azerbaijan's Nardaran

Officials began meeting with representatives of Nardaran, about 20 miles northwest of Baku, on August 5. In addition to improvements in the social infrastructure, including reliable supplies of electricity, the villagers have demanded that the government release those detained in connection with violent clashes in June. That confrontation left one village resident dead and dozens injured. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Village elders said August 8 that talks had stalled, alleging that government negotiators were not serious about addressing the issues.

Villagers indicated that street protests would recommence August 10, ANS radio in Baku reported. In addition, Nardaran residents indicated that they would likely boycott a scheduled August 24 national referendum on constitutional changes. A boycott would create an additional element of uncertainty surrounding the referendum's legitimacy. Opposition parties also intend to boycott the vote, which has been criticized by international organizations and governments for being held without a thorough public discussion of the issues. [For additional information see the Eurasia Insight archives].

A joint statement by the Azerbaijan's Prosecutor's Office and Interior Ministry, published August 2, described recent developments in Nardaran as "deliberate and pre-planned public unrest." The statement claims that "some states and extremist international religious organizations" along with "subversive internal forces" are intent on destabilizing Azerbaijan. "Their real intention [is] to change the constitutional democratic state system in Azerbaijan and create a system government by [Islamic] law," the statement said. Islamic Party of Azerbaijan and Nardaran residents have denied the Prosecutor's and Interior Ministry's allegations.

Photographer Joanna Kurosz visited Nardaran on June 14. At the time, security forces were tightly controlling access to the village, barring private cars from entering. Kurosz arrived in the town on a regional bus, riding incognito among Azerbaijanis. The images that comprise this photo essay depict the aftermath of the first violent clashes June 3-4.