Azerbaijan: What Is the Connection Between Hitler and Pop Music?

Call it Godwin’s law in action; the longer an online debate goes on, the higher the probability becomes that one side will compare the other to Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. Hence, it took only so much German criticism of Azerbaijan's human rights record ahead of next month's Eurovision show in Baku before the country's ruling Yeni Azerbaijan Party compared the Germans to the Nazis.  

Like many Azerbaijani critics, many German officials and journalists have been thinking  out loud that the continent’s major song contest should be used to push for an end to crackdowns on political dissent, free media and basic property rights, among other problem areas.

Baku’s thin-skinned responses to the criticism have taken many forms, including a recent article that placed pictures of German and Azerbaijani politicians critical of Baku in the company of no less than Adolf Hitler. The story was published in the official newspaper of President Ilham Aliyev's Yeni Azerbaijan Party. 

Not exactly the kind of message you'd want on the eve of a concert started in the 1950s to bring post-war Europe together again.

The German embassy in Baku has complained already about earlier attacks by Azerbaijani media. As Eurovision's May 22 start date draws near, it shouldn't expect the anger to dwindle. This is pressure-cooker time for Azerbaijani officials and pro-government media, and sensitivities about international criticism are running strong. 

Most recently, the spotlight has focused on the treatment of investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova, who was subjected to a video blackmail attempt while looking into links between senior officials and a company involved in Baku's Eurovision preparations.

At an April 27 news conference, Ismayilova, who works for RFE/RL and EurasiaNet.org, charged that prosecutors have gotten nowhere fast in investigating the case. But not so fast that they haven't managed to release personal details about her questioned friends and acquaintances -- an action her lawyers claim violates the law. The government, in remarks to RFE/RL, rejected the charge.