Frequently, authorities invoke contacts with Armenians and alleged armenophile feelings against their political opponents in a preemptive strike or in the hope that this may discredit them to the extent of wrecking their career.
Siyavush Novruzov, Member of Parliament, deputy executive secretary of the ruling party Yeni Azerbaijan: This comes to prove once again that Ali Karimli and his clique are ready to be in league with the devil himself to come to power. <…> We have seen this repeatedly. At one time, the people of Ali Karimli even negotiated with Armenians in Georgia and received money from them. And now as elections draw near in Azerbaijan, we have seen how these people together with Armenians act against successful initiatives and reforms implemented in the country as well as against those who serve their motherland. They are ready to cooperate with Armenians only to grab some place in the power structure of Azerbaijan.213
Fazail Agamali, chairman of the political party Ana Vatan, Member of Parliament: I wouldn’t like to specify any names yet, but I have every reason to say that a number of opposition parties of Azerbaijan are funded from sources closely related to Armenia. <…> I have been talking about the Armenian funding of opposition parties for over a year. <…> Non-governmental organizations can also be used for funding purposes”. <…> “He is confident that political parties which accept this assistance fall under the influence of Armenians”, reports Zerkalo newspaper.214
The Azerbaijani website Hurriyyet.net: The information spread through social networks concerning the commander-in-chief of the general staff of the Azerbaijani armed forces, General Najmaddin Sadikhov and his close relative or, more precisely, the son of his uncle by his paternal side who is a serviceman in the Russian military base № 102 stationed in Gyumri (Armenia) has become widely known. It is reported that N. Sadikhov maintains contacts with his cousin who is a colonel on the said military base and meets him at least once a month on the territory of Dagestan. It is of note that despite the fact that this information has been around for quite a while, neither competent law enforcement authorities nor independent military experts voiced their position. This fact itself constituting a very tangible threat to the security of the country should have long come under a thorough scrutiny. However, for some reasons known to all, considering the high rank and standing of the person in question in the country, competent authorities keep their silence. <…>. Abusing his close ties with the leadership of the country, he achieved a position where nobody can point a finger at him and alert to what is obvious. We believe that there will be time when N. Sadikhov will be called to answer for all his deeds, and that day is near.215
Warped notions of a true patriotism and the code of conduct of a pure-blooded Azerbaijani are channeled towards hatred, which is cloaked by the term tolerance and is extensively instilled in the minds of the people convinced of their tolerance which for a known reason omits Armenians.
In the village Tumbul of Babek region of Nakhichevan, a member of the Public Chamber, Ibragim Ibragimli was severely beaten up for “attempting to profess among the villagers the need for a peaceful coexistence with Armenians without any conditions”. Next, I. Ibragimli started defending the writer Akram Naibov (Akram Aylisli) targeted by a nationwide criticism as well as the ideas of his novel “Stone Dreams”, which incensed those present”.216
The names of prominent Azerbaijani activists and journalists who had Armenian friends on Facebook made public by the Azerbaijani news outlet Qаynаr.Info on March 1, 2011 represented an attempt to discredit them.217
Eduard Bagirov, a Russian writer of Azerbaijani origin, offered on his Facebook page condolences to the Armenian people in relation to the Armenian Genocide Memorial Day. The Azerbaijani writer Natig Rasulzadeh gave the following commentary on the situation: “The only thing I can say with confidence is that this man cannot be Azerbaijani no matter if he is from Moscow, Baku or Turkmenistan. You can have an Azerbaijani name all you want, but it doesn’t mean yet that you are an Azerbaijani at heart. Judging from his statement, at heart he is anybody, save a Bagirov”.218
In late May 2013, the Azerbaijani press reported that a new bill “On the Occupied Territories of Azerbaijan” was being prepared for submission and discussion at the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan:
The Azerbaijani website APA: The citizens of Azerbaijan who cooperate with any organization in Armenia will be subject to criminal liability.
Any citizen of Azerbaijan, who cooperates with any organization and structure in Armenia before the complete liberation of lands from occupation, will be subject to criminal liability”. “This is reflected in Article 7 of the new bill “On the Occupied Territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The article says that the citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan (with the exception of the representatives of central executive bodies participating in the peace talks on the liberation of the occupied lands of Azerbaijan, diplomatic missions and those who are duly authorized to this effect by the decision of Milli Majlis), who cooperate with governmental and non-governmental institutions, judicial and legislative bodies, political parties, public associations, the media, public and private commercial and non-profit entities as well as their representatives, will be held criminally liable under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The second part of the article sets forth prohibitions covering nationals of foreign countries. “All foreign state and non-state actors, their representatives and nationals of foreign countries working on the territory of Azerbaijan shall be precluded from cooperating with the occupant state on all activities laid down in Article 6(1) hereof or from participating, directly or indirectly, in such activities, as well as from partaking in the decision-making process related to such activities. These sanctions shall apply to all legal and natural persons”.219
However, the existence of the bill is denied by Parliament’s press service.
The press-service of the Milli Majlis stated that reports on the preparation of any such bill in the Parliament are false. None of the parliamentary committees has discussed or intends to discuss any such bill.220
Here, a quote from Rauf Mirkadyrov seems much to the point: “We have long refused to speak reasoning that we are in a state of war with Armenia; yet, we never actually started the war. And we called traitors those who wished to speak while the guns were silent”.221
7. Armenian origin of non-conformists
The authorities of Azerbaijan are hypersensitive to criticism or to any negative manifestation or assessment from both the international community and the domestic audience. The entire state machinery is geared up to create an image of successful, tolerant, decent, transparent and creative system.
According to the reports of international monitoring organizations or relatively independent local researchers and the media, the portrayal offered by the Azerbaijani authorities is quite far from the reality.