Editorial cartoon on the Baku European Games From Meydan TV (Image: Meydan TV)
In six weeks, the inaugural European Olympic Committee (EOC)-backed European Games will start in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku. Meanwhile, concerns about the human rights situation in the country are mounting. The latest chapter in the ongoing crackdown on government critics saw pro-democracy activist Rasul Jafarov and human rights lawyer Intigam Aliyev sentenced to 6.5 and 7.5 years in prison, respectively.
Against this backdrop, Index on Censorship, Human Rights Watch and Article 19 on 28 April hosted Give Human Rights a Sporting Chance in Azerbaijan at the Frontline Club in London. The event addressed the question of how journalists can effectively cover the games given the full scope of social and political issues in Azerbaijan.
From left: Emin Milli, Rebecca Vincent and Giorgi Gogia speaking speaking on the crackdown on government critics in Azerbaijan ahead of this summer’s Baku European Games (Photo: Index on Censorship)
On the panel were Emin Milli, a former political prisoner in Azerbaijan, now director of Meydan TV; Rebecca Vincent, coordinator of the Sport for Rights campaign; and Giorgi Gogia, Human Rights Watch’s senior researcher on Azerbaijan who was recently denied entry into the country. These were some of their key points:
In last year #Azerbaijan gov has been systematically attacking civil society & they are getting away with it @Giorgi_Gogia #RealBaku2015
— IPGA (@AZfreeXpression) April 28, 2015
There is no one left who can safely do human rights activism in Azerbaijan @SportForRights .@article19 #RealBaku2015
— David Diaz-Jogeix (@DiazJogeix) April 28, 2015
From NGO laws to imprisonment, Azerbaijan took several steps to silence criticism says @Giorgi_Gogia #realbaku2015 — Melody Patry (@melodypatry) April 28, 2015
Many of Azerbaijan’s political prisoners have serious and debilitating health problems – @rebecca_vincent #Baku2015 @frontlineclub — Stephanie Hancock (@hancock_steph) April 28, 2015
“We want to raise the issues our jailed colleagues were trying to raise” @rebecca_vincent about the @SportForRights campaign #Azerbaijan
— Melody Patry (@melodypatry) April 28, 2015
“Last time we had an event like this @Khadija0576 was sitting next to me. Now facing up to 19 years in jail” @rebecca_vincent #RealBaku2015
— IPGA (@AZfreeXpression) April 28, 2015
Olympic committee does bear responsibility, this contravenes Olympic charter @Giorgi_Gogia #realbaku2015 — IPGA (@AZfreeXpression) April 28, 2015
Olympic Committee bear moral responsibility for enabling repression @rebecca_vincent @SportForRights #HelloBaku — Platform (@PlatformLondon) April 28, 2015
Relationships with European States are of fundamental importance to gov of Azerbaijan. Provides leverage to push on human rights @BHRRC — ARTICLE 19 Europe (@article19europe) April 28, 2015
Very important that European leaders don’t give prestige to #Azerbaijan by attending opening of the games. @Giorgi_Gogia @hrw #Realbaku2015
— IPGA (@AZfreeXpression) April 28, 2015
British gov also silenced on human rights due to to business interests in #Azerbaijan @rebecca_vincent #realbaku2015
— IPGA (@AZfreeXpression) April 28, 2015
@rebecca_vincent we are not calling for boycott of games- but western states must apply pressure on Azerbaijan re human rights #Baku2015
— ARTICLE 19 Europe (@article19europe) April 28, 2015
We are facing a huge PR and propaganda machine from Azerbaijan supported by oil companies in the west, says @eminmilli
— Milana Knežević (@milanaknez) April 28, 2015
.@eminmilli – Azerbaijan has silenced Council of Europe over the past decade. We are facing a huge propaganda machine #Baku2015
— Stephanie Hancock (@hancock_steph) April 28, 2015
Azerbaijan has created myth that it is strategically important for west, but no euro country relies on it for oil/gas @eminmilli — ARTICLE 19 Europe (@article19europe) April 28, 2015
“It’s not true that Azerbaijanis don’t know what is happening – and they are very unhappy with Baku Games.” #RealBaku2015 @eminmilli — ARTICLE 19 Europe (@article19europe) April 28, 2015
This is one of @MeydanTV‘s most shared cartoons, which shows how much it resonates with people, says @eminmilli pic.twitter.com/qfB2t4Rwo1
— Milana Knežević (@milanaknez) April 28, 2015
It’s important that sports journalists look beyond the sports when they are on the ground in Azerbaijan, says @Giorgi_Gogia
— Milana Knežević (@milanaknez) April 28, 2015
@eminmilli #RealBaku2015 the real Challenge for European journalists is to expose the true nature of Azerbaijan .@article19 — David Diaz-Jogeix (@DiazJogeix) April 28, 2015
If human rights activism has no impact why does the #Azerbaijan gov arrest all the activists? #realBaku2015 — IPGA (@AZfreeXpression) April 28, 2015
Havel, Mandela – change is often slow, reminds @eminmilli but we must persist. A voice of determination and optimism #RealBaku2015
— ARTICLE 19 Europe (@article19europe) April 28, 2015
This article was posted on 29 April 2015 at indexoncensorship.org
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These guys are not NGO people, they were doing illegal work in NGO sector.
Is this news?! Try to do something, please, at least non-bias!
Azerbaijan is a young state and the existance of some problems is inevitable. However this article is another unacceptable attempt to mix up the politics and the sport.
European Games is not political issue
emin milli’s campaign is to blemish Azerbaijan before European Games. he thinks only of the grants that he will get
These people are imprisoned without any political reason. There are obvious evidences.. I wonder if in any country someone detained for tax evasion or another charge, is his\her arrest considered politically motivated too? this is the smearing campaign against Azerbaijan ahead of European Games.
After reading this article I understand one thing you are jealous of our country.
If once I will protect human rights then I can break the laws of the country to avoid the payment of taxes, to extort money from people by threatening them with Europe?
We need a serious articles, not just a compilation of fictional tweets. This is really redicilous to see your approach of creating a news based on tweets:-)
Why are you politicizing the sports events? Azerbaijan is a strong country able to host large international events. Stop blaming Azerbaijan for all the deadly sins.
European Games is not a politic issue it is a sport competition. This black mail campaign against Azerbaijan is still going on. In any case European games will be held in Azerbaijan but it is clear that such campaign was done for impair the image of Azerbaijan in the world. The people mentioned in the article were arrested for their illegal activities.
People what about the human rights of the refugees and IDP’s which fired out from Karabakh. Lost their home, life, past and future. It seems you worry some 100 people which named “hero”. Who will think about more than 1000000 peoples’ rights?!
Blackmail of Azerbaijan is obvious. The “experts” who invited to the meeting is unknown. one-sided ones in Azerbaijan/Emin Milli was member of new Azerbaijani Party. When westerns organization paid much more money he moved to opposition side. The discussion is bias, because there was no progovernmental expert in order to make balance democratically. This event also is part of blackmail campaign towards Azerbaijan. So your lie will not go on, it will stop soon.Shame on You!
Stop blackmail campaign against Azerbaijan. There are a lot of positive changes and developings in Azerbaijan after gaining its independence. Most media workers journalists from differenet countries see these positive changes in their own eyes and coverit. The Crackdown and pressure of some foreign media and NGO-s related with media and human rights to Azerbaijan is unacceptable in the eve of Baku 2015 European Games. Meydan tv wants to introduce itself like “independent” and “hero” media, but unsuccessfull. Meydan Tv and other “oppositional” azerbaijanis living abroad is as important tool for some antiAzerbaijan sources to damage Azerbaijan’s reputation. Dont be tool of them. Azerbaijan will host Baku 2015 succesfully. Why dont Human rights NGOs devote their time about human rights violations of Azerbaijani refugees who want to return to Karabakh? They lost their homes, relatives, there are 2 Azerbaijani civilians Dilgam Asgarov and Ырфрифя Йгдшнум are in captive by Armenia. Armenia rejeсt to return them. Rebecca Vincent and Humant Rights Watch and human rights NGOs should answer for it.
When you`ll stop targeting Azerbaijan? Azerbaijan is quite free and enough strong country to develop democracy without you! And European Games are very widely supported by the population! Youn need to know this!