From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Thu Feb 14 2002 - 09:31:48 EST
AZERBAIJAN
A WEEKLY ANALYTICAL-INFORMATION BULLETIN
No: 07 (309), February 14 2002
http://www.andf-az.org/news.html
AZERBAIJAN NATIONAL DEMOCRACY FOUNDATION
http://www.andf-az.org/
This Bulletin is sponsored by the Institute for Democracy in Eastern Europe
[IDEE/Washington- www.idee.org] on the basis of the
Project titled "Support for Monitoring of Civil Society Development"
Editor: Ulvi HAKIMOV
Translator: Ruhiyya JAMILLI
Authors: Farhad MAMMADOV, Mustafa HAJIBEYLI
#1.AZERI PRESIDENT UNDERGOES A MEDICAL TREATMENT AT CLEVELAND CLINIC
Despite of passing nearly two weeks, the official circles have not given concrete
information about
the reasons of president's treatment and the date of his return to Baku.
By Farhad MAMMADOV
#2."ABA" TV STATION'S TRIAL CONTINUES
The colleagues of the "ABA" TV station are one of the rare persons arrested
for tax evasion in a country where this case is wide-scale.
By Mustafa HAJIBEYLI
#3.NO PROGRESS IS GAINED IN THE PROBLEM OF POLITICAL PRISONERS
The Azerbaijani government does not implement the demands at the resolution
of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly.
By Farhad MAMMADOV
#4. A POLITICAL PRISONER DIES IN CUSTODY
It is stated that the opposition member died as a result of torturing.
By Mustafa HAJIBEYLI
#5.GEORGIA IS READY TO HELP THE REGULATION OF KARABAKH PROBLEM
But Armenia considers impossible returning Karabakh back to Azerbaijan.
#6.AZERBAIJAN AND IRAN TO CHANGE NEARLY 100 PRISONERS
The list of Iranians kept in custody in Azerbaijan will be presented to Tehran in
the nearest days.
#7.DETAINED "ADALAT" PARTY MEMBERS ARE RELEASED
#8.CONFERENCE OF THE WORLD AZERIS CONGRESS TO BE HELD IN TURKEY
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#1.AZERI PRESIDENT UNDERGOES A MEDICAL TREATMENT AT CLEVELAND CLINIC
Despite of passing nearly two weeks, the official circles have not given concrete
information about
the reasons of president's treatment and the date of his return to Baku.
By Farhad MAMMADOV
On January 29, 2002, starting to New York for attending the Davos Forum the
Azerbaijani president has not still returned back to Baku. On February 3rd, he went
to the Cleveland clinic in Ohayo state of the United States and is still there.
While the official sources has first stated that the Azeri president Heidar Aliev
went to the clinic for a medical examination and would return Baku in two or three
days, getting the duration of examination longer confirms that he is undergoing a
course of treatment at the clinic in connection with the problems on his health.
According to the latest news spread relying on the Azerbaijani Embassy to the
United States, Heidar Aliev will leave the clinic in the nearest 2-3 days. But the
non-official sources inform that the president will not return back to Baku no
sooner than February 20th. It is notable that there was made a surgery operation on
Aliev's heart at the Cleveland clinics in 1999 and after that period the Azeri
president visits the clinic every time visiting to the U.S.
But this time, in the words of the official sources, there is not any problem with
the health of Aliev. But those sources do not comment for which reasons does the
president delay in the clinic for nearly two weeks, if there is not any problem in
the health of the president. The president's press service has not provided any
information about the reasons and course of Aliev's treatment until now. But the
ministries of national security and domestic affairs have stated that on February
12th they talked with Mr. Aliev by phone and that "there is not any problem in his
health". These discrepant statements cause appearing various comments in the press.
The efforts of the Azerbaijani officials to hide information about the president's
health from the public have caused a serious scandal once in 2000. Going for a
business trip to the U.S. in September that year the president Heidar Aliev went to
the Cleveland clinic like this time and stayed there for several days. But the
official circles did not comment that fact and were stating that the president
would soon return to Baku. On using the "information blockade" created around
Aliev, the Russian sources spread such news that the president of Azerbaijan had
died in Cleveland and as a result, there appeared a crisis for several hours in the
country. Only after that incident the official circles had stated that Mr. Aliev
caught a cold, therefore was undergoing a treatment in the clinic.
It is notable that despite of receiving invitations, Heidar Aliev has not gone to
Washington for holding talks with the high-rang representatives of the U.S.
administration. According to the Azerbaijani Embassy to the United States, the
president should return back to Baku as soon as he leaves the clinic. In experts'
opinions, Aliev's refusal to go to Washington is related mainly with the political
matters. Before starting to the U.S. he has held negotiations in Moscow, and
Washington is interested in the closed sides of those talks. In addition,
simultaneously with Aliev's visit to America, the American president George W. Bush
has issued the known statement concerning Iran, the southern neighbor of
Azerbaijan. From this point of view one cannot exclude that the U.S. administration
is interested in holding discussion with Heidar Aliev also about the
Azerbaijani-Iranian relationships. And the Azerbaijani president Heidar Aliev must
pay an official visit to Iran in late February.
<=Back
#2."ABA" TV STATION'S TRIAL CONTINUES
The colleagues of the "ABA" TV station are one of the rare persons arrested
for tax evasion in a country where this case is wide-scale.
By Mustafa HAJIBEYLI
For nearly one week the Yasamal district court of Baku continues the legal
proceedings on the basis of indictment raised against the colleagues of the "ABA"
TV station. It is notable that the financial director of the TV company Shamil
Safiyev, chairman of the advertising department Vagif Safarov, and advertisement
agent Alexander Kadirin have been charged with a criminal case by being accused in
the financial falsification and tax evasion. They have been kept under arrest since
June last year. If believe the documents presented by the public prosecutor at the
legal proceedings and total anti-campaign held by the other TV stations being in
rivalry with "ABA", we may say that the mentioned TV station has used of false
works in order to evade taxes from the income gained from advertisements. However,
this trial and entirely closing up the "ABA" TV station has political motivates.
This is why, it is known beforehand that the result of the trial will not be in
favor of the "ABA" regardless of whether the documents presented by the public
prosecutor are true or forged.
Nearly a year ago, "ABA" was the most popular TV station in the country. Though the
TV station used of the help of the high government representatives during beginning
its activity later attempted to independence and could gather a broad audience in a
short period. That factor created obstacle to the government authorities that kept
all the other TV stations under its control in the country in manipulating the
public opinion. Therefore, "ABA" had, several times, to face with the pressures of
different government bodies. The Ministry of Taxes held an inspection at the TV
channel by the order of the government circles and revealed definite
irregularities. After all these pressures, the broadcasting of "ABA" was stopped
since July 17 last year. The decision on stopping the broadcasting of "ABA" was
given by the station's president Faig Zulfugarov. He had related his decision with
the impossibility of functioning an independent TV channel at the current situation
when the freedom of press and speech is oppressed in Azerbaijan. In his separate
letter addressed to the president Heidar Aliev Mr. Zulfugarov stated that he had
been, several times, suggested on being patronized by the officials of the ruling
team during the activity of "ABA". The news on the efforts of the authorities to
control the "ABA" has several times published at the press. The later development
of the process shows that just the intention of staying beyond the influence circle
of the government authorities has caused neutralizing of "ABA". In addition, after
beginning the pressures on the "ABA" TV station, the head of the station Faig
Zulfugarov has left the country. At present, he is in the United States and
undoubtedly, he will be arrested in case of returning to the country.
As we mentioned above, the groundless accusations raised against the colleagues of
"ABA" are not excluded, too. But it should be taken into consideration that to find
out any organization, office, enterprise, and others that do not evade the taxes is
very difficult matter in Azerbaijan where the laws does not function and corruption
is wide-scale. Almost everyone beginning from its president till the ordinary
citizens have become an element of general corruption system in the country. As
well, if there are investigated the financial accounts of the TV channels and other
media organs presently functioning and dealing with the propaganda of the current
authorities, undoubtedly, there will be revealed serious irregularities here, too.
The colleagues of "ABA" are one of the rare persons accused and arrested for tax
evasion in a country where this case is wide-scale.
Finally, "ABA" is the third TV station closed in Azerbaijan during the ruling of
Heidar Aliev. The "BMTI" TV station was closed in 1995 and "Sara" TV station in
1999.
<=Back
#3.NO PROGRESS IS GAINED IN THE PROBLEM OF POLITICAL PRISONERS
The Azerbaijani government does not implement the demands at the resolution of the
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly.
By Farhad MAMMADOV
The Azerbaijani government authorities do not hurry implementing the resolution
adopted by the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly on January 24, 2002
concerning the political prisoners in Azerbaijan. It is notable that there was
demanded on immediate release of 17 presumed political prisoners in that
resolution. There are also the former minister interior Isgender Hamidov, former
defense minister Rahim Gaziyev, head of the so-called "Talish-Mugan Republic"
Alikram Humbatov, as well as a captain of 2nd degree Janmirza Mirzoyev in that
list. Though Azerbaijan has taken an obligation on considering the cases of the
above-mentioned persons first while being accepted to the Council of Europe, did
not implement it. The government has agreed in considering the cases of these
persons again at the Court of Appeal only after having increased the pressures of
the Council of Europe concerning the problem of political prisoners.
But the legal proceedings began at the Gobustan closed prison since January 24th
has been postponed for a month for unknown reasons. In the opinion of human rights
defenders, such maneuver of the Azerbaijani government has aimed a preparation for
the April session of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly. Thus in case of
raising the problem of political prisoners at that session again, the Azerbaijani
leadership can state "doing works in this field" by grounding on continuing the
retrial of the famous "threes" [Isgender Hamidov, Alikram Humbatov, and Rahim
Gaziyev]. In addition, the Azerbaijani officials, being the president Heidar Aliev
in the head, have stated these persons will not be released regardless of the
demands of the Council of Europe.
But the case of the captain Janmirza Mirzoyev causes a specific concern. He was
regularly criticizing the defense minister at the media for the negative cases
covered the Azerbaijani army and last year he was charged with a murder incident
committed in 1993. The local law-enforcement agencies accused the captain in
ordering that murder in accordance with the testimony of Aliyusif Tahirov, an OMON
member imprisoned for life, and imprisoned him for 8 years. But recently Tahirov
has refused his testimony and stated that he was taken a testimony against Mirzoyev
by tortures. As a result, the Court of Appeal had to consider the case again and on
February 13th issued a sentence on keeping valid the verdict issued about Mirzoyev.
It is notable that the legal proceedings in connection with the case of Mirzoyev
were held with the cases not meeting the international norms. Last year, a U.S.
ambassador to the OSCE spread a specific statement concerning the case of the
captain and called the Azerbaijani government authorities to observe the human
rights in the country.
The human rights protectors and lawyers think that the criminal case raised about
Janmirza Mirzoyev is forged. As it is seen from the latest sentence of the Court of
Appeal, the Azerbaijani government does not hurry to implement the claims of the
international organizations on human rights.
<=Back
#4. A POLITICAL PRISONER DIES IN CUSTODY
It is stated that the opposition member died as a result of torturing.
By Mustafa HAJIBEYLI
On February 9th, 2002, Fazail Tagiyev, chairman of the Sumgait city branch of the
Adalat Party, died at a hospital of the Ministry of Justice. It is notable that Mr.
Tagiyev was arrested in September 2001 together with another 9 members of the
party. At that point, a chief of Sumgait city police department stated that the
propaganda held by the arrested persons was "unpleasant".
Mr. Tagiyev was accused in "hooliganism and breaking the public tranquility" and
charged with a criminal case by the Sumgait city police department.
Mr. Tagiyev facing with the pressures at the Sumgait police department was brutally
beaten by the police colleagues and seriously injured on his head and rib. During
that period Mr. Tagiyev was undergoing a treatment at a Ministry of Justice
hospital. Therefore, his legal proceedings have not been held, yet.
The medical-expertise office of Nizami district court has stated that Mr. Tagiyev
has died on the heart case. But the leadership of "Adalat" Party is stating that
Tagiyev has died as a result of tortures. Elkhan Shukurov, deputy chairman of the
party, has stated at the press conference that there were the signs of violence on
the body of Tagiyev. In his words, there was concretely a scar and wound on the
hand of Tagiyev. But it has not been noted in the opinion of the medical expertise.
Ilyas Ismailov, chairman of the party, did not excluded dieing Tagiyev really from
heart case. But he pointed out that the unjust arrest of people is itself a
torture: "The heart disease does not appear itself- the heart catches ill as a
result of tortures, intimidations, unjustness and a man loses his life". Mr.
Ismailov stated that Tagiyev is a victim of the existing Aliev regime where do not
exist independent courts, laws do not function. The leadership of Adalat Party has
come out with the claim of charging the officials being guilty in illegal arrest of
Tagiyev and his death.
It is stated that the order on arresting Tagiyev was given by the persons
represented at the highest bodies of the authorities. Tagiyev, who was an MP in
1990-95 in the country, has been known as one of the persons going against Heidar
Aliev in 1991.
This incident has caused a serious protest at the Azerbaijani democratic camp.
There has been issued a statement concerning the matter at the latest meeting of
the Democratic Congress. In the statement is stressed the responsibility for the
Tagiyev's death directly lies on the head of the state Heidar Aliev: "Fazail
Tagiyev is not the first and, as it seems, the last prisoner losing his life as a
result of tortures. Today, the life of most of the hundreds of political prisoners
kept under arrest are in danger for the problems with their health. And its
responsibility is entirely on the current authorities and Heidar Aliev". On
revealing his opinion to the happened incident Isa Gambar, chairman of the Musavat
party and Democratic Congress, said: "We once again demand on the government
authorities to approach seriously to releasing the political prisoners. Our
struggle in this direction will continue".
On February 11, there was conducted the funeral ceremony of Tagiyev. So, the number
of political prisoners has decreased in another one person. It is a very tragic
fact: a person working at the important posts at some point, an elderly
intellectual is detained, raised a groundless accusation against him, and even is
killed in custody without being approved the groundless accusation.
<=Back
#5.GEORGIA IS READY TO HELP THE REGULATION OF KARABAKH PROBLEM
But Armenia considers impossible returning Karabakh back to Azerbaijan.
"The official Tbilisi is ready to help re-starting the Armenian-Azerbaijani
negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict", stated the Georgian parliament
chairman Nino Burjanadze in her meeting with the Armenian foreign minister Vardan
Oskanian. She stressed that she has appealed to the official Baku with such
suggestion during her visit to Azerbaijan. Ms. Burjanadze pointed out that there
must be found out new ways for the regulation of the conflicts in the Caucasus. The
parliament chairman has specially marked that these conflicts create tension in the
region and negatively influence on security.
In his turn, the Armenian foreign minister said that as the Upper Karabakh was
taken off from the territory of Azerbaijan during the Soviet ruling, now it
couldn't be united with this republic. Oskanian stated that Yerevan is ready
finding out compromising ways for the regulation of the conflict.
<AzB>
<=Back
#6.AZERBAIJAN AND IRAN TO CHANGE NEARLY 100 PRISONERS
The list of Iranians kept in custody in Azerbaijan will be presented to Tehran in
the nearest days.
At present, Azerbaijan and Iran are discussing the question of mutual exchange of
nearly 100 prisoners detained for committing small illegalities. Seid Shahvendi, a
consul of the Iranian Embassy to Baku, has already met with Aydin Gasimov, deputy
minister of justice of Azerbaijan, concerning this matter and handed him the list
of Iranian prisoners in the Azerbaijani custodies. The prisoners will serve the
rest part of their punishment in their countries.
A representative of the embassy reported that the analogical list should be
presented to Iran by the Azerbaijani side, too.
Mr. Gasimov stated the suggestion of prisoners' exchange [change] was made by the
Iranian side and stressed at the moment, there are worked on the details of this
matter. "The date of transfer has not been defined, yet" Mr. Gasimov said and added
that the prisoners' exchange is possible according to the agreement signed between
Iran and Azerbaijan in 1998.
It is notable that the list of the Iranian citizens serving their punishment at the
Azerbaijani prisons will be presented to the official Tehran in the nearest days.
<AzB>
<=Back
#7.DETAINED "ADALAT" PARTY MEMBERS ARE RELEASED
On February 13, 2002, members of the "Adalat" Party- Latif Guliyev and Jarulla
Ramazanov- were released with the decision of the Court of Appeal, Elkhan Shukurlu,
head of the party's press service, reported. He stated that both party members did
not regard themselves guilty and demanded on the court to discharge them. The judge
has changed the preventive punishment about them and given a verdict on releasing
them by keeping one year of conditional punishment on the accused.
Let's note that Latif Guliyev, Jarulla Ramazanov, and Fazail Tagiyev were detained
by the Sumgait city police colleagues on September 19, 2001. They were charged with
the Article 221.1 of the Criminal Code and were imprisoned for one year and 6
months in December that year.
It is notable that the yesterday's decision was adopted after the death of Fazail
Tagiyev in custody on February 10th, 2002.
<AzB>
<=Back
#8.CONFERENCE OF THE WORLD AZERIS CONGRESS TO BE HELD IN TURKEY
The Steering Committee of the World Azeris Congress will gather in Ankara, Turkey
in early March, Teymur Eminbeyli, deputy chairman of the Congress' Steering
Committee, reported. Mr. Eminbeyli has informed that the reason of gathering the
members of the Steering Committee in Ankara is related with the 6th conference of
the organization.
Let's remind that the Congress leadership issued a decision on holding the next
conference of the organization in Turkey yet in last year. Mr. Eminbeyli said
several problems are to be resolved in connection with holding the conference. He
added that the Congress leadership would hold meetings with the Turkish government
officials, as well with the heads of Turkish parliament. There will be held
discussions on holding the conference during those meetings: "The World Azeris
Congress is planning to hold the next conference in August this year after having
resolved several problems". Mr. Eminbeyli also pointed out that there will also be
discussed the problems of Azeris living in various poles of the world during the
meetings with the Turkish government representatives.
<AzB>
<=Back
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