{"id":65330,"date":"2015-04-10T08:44:10","date_gmt":"2015-04-10T07:44:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.indexoncensorship.org\/?p=65330"},"modified":"2017-03-23T15:39:59","modified_gmt":"2017-03-23T15:39:59","slug":"twitter-users-hijack-hellobaku-to-shine-spotlight-on-azerbaijans-human-rights-abuses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.indexoncensorship.org\/newsite02may\/?p=65330","title":{"rendered":"Twitter users hijack #HelloBaku to shine spotlight on Azerbaijan&#8217;s human rights abuses"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_62728\" style=\"width: 710px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-62728\" class=\"wp-image-62728\" src=\"http:\/\/www.indexoncensorship.org\/newsite02may\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/azerbaijan.jpg\" alt=\"From top left: Arif Yunus, Rasul Jafarov, Leyla Yunus, Khadija Ismayilova, Intigam Aliyev and \" width=\"700\" height=\"560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.indexoncensorship.org\/newsite02may\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/azerbaijan.jpg 620w, https:\/\/www.indexoncensorship.org\/newsite02may\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/azerbaijan-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.indexoncensorship.org\/newsite02may\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/azerbaijan-250x200.jpg 250w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-62728\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">From top left: Arif Yunus, Rasul Jafarov, Leyla Yunus, Khadija Ismayilova, Intigam Aliyev and Anar Mammadli &#8211;\u00a0some of the government critics jailed on trumped up charges in Azerbaijan<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Social media users have hijacked the hashtag\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?src=typd&amp;q=%23HelloBaku\">#HelloBaku<\/a>\u00a0to draw attention to human rights and free speech violations in Azerbaijan ahead of this summer&#8217;s inaugural European Games in the capital Baku.<\/p>\n<p>Baku 2015 organisers launched the hashtag contest on 4 March 2015, as part of a promotional push ahead of the games, which start on 12 June. Social media users were invited to enter by posting a photo or video of themselves holding a sign with #HelloBaku written on it. The winner, set to be announced this week, will be\u00a0awarded two tickets to the opening ceremony, as well as a night at a luxury hotel and flights.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p>Post a photo of you saying <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HelloBaku?src=hash\">#HelloBaku<\/a> to win tickets to <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BakuGames2015\">@BakuGames2015<\/a> opening ceremony! \u2708\ufe0f <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/2VMRbqux92\">http:\/\/t.co\/2VMRbqux92<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/CURPEEa0AL\">pic.twitter.com\/CURPEEa0AL<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 2015 European Games (@BakuGames2015) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BakuGames2015\/status\/578926600122580992\">March 20, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>But the campaign backfired, as a number of social media users instead used #HelloBaku to highlight Azerbaijan&#8217;s poor record on human rights. According to the latest estimates, there are over 100 political prisoners in the country. Since last summer, authorities have been engaged in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.indexoncensorship.org\/newsite02may\/2015\/02\/dear-ambassador-must-agree-disagree\/\">an unprecedented onslaught<\/a> against its most prominent critics, jailing investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova, pro-democracy activist\u00a0Rasul Jafarov, human rights lawyer Intigam Aliyev and others\u00a0on trumped up charges. On 9 April, prosecutors asked for a 9-year sentence for Jafarov, who stands accused of tax evasion and malpractice, among other things.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HelloBaku?src=hash\">#HelloBaku<\/a> hashtag seems to have drawn more attention to Azerbaijan&#8217;s record of alleged rights abuses than its hosting of European Games \u2014 Thomas Grove (@tggrove) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/tggrove\/status\/584282226549919744\">April 4, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HelloBaku?src=hash\">#HelloBaku<\/a>: Free jailed activists and journalists so Index&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jodieginsberg\">@jodieginsberg<\/a> can say hello to them too <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/dy8q3lzni4\">pic.twitter.com\/dy8q3lzni4<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Index on Censorship (@IndexCensorship) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/IndexCensorship\/status\/582929186760851456\">March 31, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p>.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/biginbaku\">@biginbaku<\/a> What else is on offer in <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HelloBaku?src=hash\">#HelloBaku<\/a>? Journalists, bloggers in prison, crackdown on government critics. <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/rKx9AwTCPs\">pic.twitter.com\/rKx9AwTCPs<\/a> \u2014 Wenzel Michalski (@WenzelMichalski) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WenzelMichalski\/status\/580990544253358080\">March 26, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HelloBaku?src=hash\">#HelloBaku<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/amnesty\">@amnesty<\/a>: \u201cNo one should be fooled by glitz &amp; glamour&#8230;<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Azerbaijan?src=hash\">#Azerbaijan<\/a> is putting on&#8221; <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/Ekz1JFGUIO\">http:\/\/t.co\/Ekz1JFGUIO<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/dqTd5wBt68\">pic.twitter.com\/dqTd5wBt68<\/a> \u2014 Kate Nahapetian (@KN87) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KN87\/status\/580030412036145152\">March 23, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p>My friend <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Khadija0576\">@Khadija0576<\/a> is in prison. Human rights worker Leyla Yunus, Prof Intigam Aliyev are in prison. Give them a ticket out. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HelloBaku?src=hash\">#HelloBaku<\/a> \u2014 Shabnam (@Peaceweet) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Peaceweet\/status\/580445837022638081\">March 24, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p>Must-read for <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UNICEF\">@UNICEF<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BP_plc\">@BP_plc<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CocaCola\">@CocaCola<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/N22wvofeRF\">http:\/\/t.co\/N22wvofeRF<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HelloBaku?src=hash\">#HelloBaku<\/a> + video with <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/dinarayunus\">@dinarayunus<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/iZTYgxl79r\">https:\/\/t.co\/iZTYgxl79r<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Baku2015?src=hash\">#Baku2015<\/a> \u2014 Jan Kooy (@KooyJan) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KooyJan\/status\/585325344032423937\">April 7, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HelloBaku?src=hash\">#HelloBaku<\/a>: Big court day today; <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/rasuljafarov\">@rasuljafarov<\/a> &amp; lawyer Khalid Bagirov in court now and at 15:00 IRFS will be in court <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Azerbaijan?src=hash\">#Azerbaijan<\/a> \u2014 Human Rights Houses (@HRHFoundation) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/HRHFoundation\/status\/586093322294394880\">April 9, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HelloBaku?src=hash\">#HelloBaku<\/a>: European Olympic Committee Urged to Press <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Azerbaijan?src=hash\">#Azerbaijan<\/a>\u2019s Crackdown on Opposition <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Le6O2s7deg\">https:\/\/t.co\/Le6O2s7deg<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Baku2015?src=hash\">#Baku2015<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/EuropeanGames?src=hash\">#EuropeanGames<\/a> \u2014 Ani Wandaryan (@GoldenTent) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GoldenTent\/status\/585517701017272320\">April 7, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p>Trial in the case of Intigam Aliyev <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Azerbaijan?src=hash\">#Azerbaijan<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HelloBaku?src=hash\">#HelloBaku<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/RealBaku2015?src=hash\">#RealBaku2015<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SportForRight?src=hash\">#SportForRight<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/FreeIntigam?src=hash\">#FreeIntigam<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HelloBaku?src=hash\">#HelloBaku<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/p1XMyLcve0\">http:\/\/t.co\/p1XMyLcve0<\/a> \u2014 HUMAN RIGHTS (@azhumanrights) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/azhumanrights\/status\/586112807684431872\">April 9, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HelloBaku?src=hash\">#HelloBaku<\/a>, Hello From Prison. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/realBaku2015?src=hash\">#realBaku2015<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Azerbaijan?src=hash\">#Azerbaijan<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Baku2015?src=hash\">#Baku2015<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/freeLeyla?src=hash\">#freeLeyla<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/freeKhadija?src=hash\">#freeKhadija<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/fNDKVEckWI\">https:\/\/t.co\/fNDKVEckWI<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/jeSZqezllj\">pic.twitter.com\/jeSZqezllj<\/a> \u2014 STOPREPRESSIONS (@stoprepressions) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/stoprepressions\/status\/584043977172656130\">April 3, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p>5 April 2015 <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Azerbaijan?src=hash\">#Azerbaijan<\/a>&#8216;i opposition holds rally. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Baku2015?src=hash\">#Baku2015<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HelloBaku?src=hash\">#HelloBaku<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/RealBaku2015?src=hash\">#RealBaku2015<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SportForRights?src=hash\">#SportForRights<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Talanason?src=hash\">#Talanason<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/uWQ4hjNRLB\">pic.twitter.com\/uWQ4hjNRLB<\/a> \u2014 AXCP PRESS CENTER (@A_X_C_P) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/A_X_C_P\/status\/585052426178207744\">April 6, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p>New sport and rights coalition calls for prisoner releases ahead of <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/BakuGames?src=hash\">#BakuGames<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Azerbaijan?src=hash\">#Azerbaijan<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HelloBaku?src=hash\">#HelloBaku<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/24KREfFc2P\">http:\/\/t.co\/24KREfFc2P<\/a> \u2014 Nizami Abdullayev (@NizamiHR) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NizamiHR\/status\/586098581141987329\">April 9, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p>Prisoner of conscience Leyla Yunus ill in prison. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Azerbaijan?src=hash\">#Azerbaijan<\/a> should free her now. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HelloBaku?src=hash\">#HelloBaku<\/a>? <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/PY31EFNF6T\">http:\/\/t.co\/PY31EFNF6T<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/PpzmJXkvxv\">pic.twitter.com\/PpzmJXkvxv<\/a> \u2014 Andrew Stroehlein (@astroehlein) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/astroehlein\/status\/580325910445989888\">March 24, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HelloBaku?src=hash\">#HelloBaku<\/a> Azerbaijan: release of all prisoners of conscience <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/d1GM0dHQNN\">https:\/\/t.co\/d1GM0dHQNN<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Baku2015?src=hash\">#Baku2015<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/4xG9Y3K58q\">pic.twitter.com\/4xG9Y3K58q<\/a> \u2014 Amnesty NL (@amnestynl) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/amnestynl\/status\/580112546323103744\">March 23, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p>in Azerbaijan have 101political prisoners !Guys people do not need these Olimpic <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BakuGames2015\">@BakuGames2015<\/a> !The people in terrible condition <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HelloBaku?src=hash\">#HelloBaku<\/a> \u2014 Sevinj NM (@SevinjNM) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SevinjNM\/status\/585588350561693697\">April 7, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p>Love this photo, which captures the contrasts of life in <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Baku?src=hash\">#Baku<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Azerbaijan?src=hash\">#Azerbaijan<\/a> via <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MeydanTV\">@MeydanTV<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HelloBaku?src=hash\">#HelloBaku<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/7v5LDz2cxo\">pic.twitter.com\/7v5LDz2cxo<\/a> \u2014 Rebecca Vincent (@rebecca_vincent) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/rebecca_vincent\/status\/579624421297647616\">March 22, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>On 30 March, the same day the contest closed, Human Rights Watch researcher\u00a0Giorgi Gogia, who was set\u00a0to attend the trial hearing of Aliyev and Jafarov, was blocked from entering Azerbaijan. Traveling from his native Georgia, Gogia does not require a visa to go to Azerbaijan. Despite this, his passport was taken away and he was held at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku for 31 hours without explanation, before being sent back to Tbilisi.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p>My account of 31-hour ordeal at <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Baku?src=hash\">#Baku<\/a> airport. Happy to be home, but sad for jailed rights defenders in <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Azerbaijan?src=hash\">#Azerbaijan<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/qmKF9yhiRM\">https:\/\/t.co\/qmKF9yhiRM<\/a> \u2014 Giorgi Gogia (@Giorgi_Gogia) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Giorgi_Gogia\/status\/583017768557023232\">March 31, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\" data-conversation=\"none\"><p>Repression in <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Azerbaijan?src=hash\">#Azerbaijan<\/a> no <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AprilFools?src=hash\">#AprilFools<\/a> joke: <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hrw\">@HRW<\/a>&#8216;s <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Giorgi_Gogia\">@Giorgi_Gogia<\/a> airport ordeal <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ww4CBuTEa3\">https:\/\/t.co\/ww4CBuTEa3<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HelloBaku?src=hash\">#HelloBaku<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/aihfMV2zSu\">pic.twitter.com\/aihfMV2zSu<\/a> \u2014 Minky Worden (@MinkysHighjinks) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MinkysHighjinks\/status\/583252701884084224\">April 1, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p>Will <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BakuGames2015\">@BakuGames2015<\/a> RT this latest on <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Azerbaijan?src=hash\">#Azerbaijan<\/a>&#8216;s crackdown on human rights? <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/swQttNqru1\">http:\/\/t.co\/swQttNqru1<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HelloBaku?src=hash\">#HelloBaku<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/vwlVzVzg8J\">pic.twitter.com\/vwlVzVzg8J<\/a> \u2014 EmmaDaly (@EmmaDaly) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/EmmaDaly\/status\/583195259187789824\">April 1, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" type=\"mce-mce-no\/type\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Azerbaijan&#8217;s authorities, led by President Ilham Aliyvev, have been accused by human rights groups of running an expensive international PR operation to whitewash rights violations, and present the country as a &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.article19.org\/data\/files\/medialibrary\/3003\/12-03-26-azerbaijan.pdf\">modern, outward looking state<\/a>&#8220;. According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/baku-2015-european-games-operation-committee\">Baku European Games Operation Committee (BEGOC)<\/a>, the games will &#8220;showcase Azerbaijan as a vibrant and modern European nation of great achievement&#8221;.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HelloBaku?src=hash\">#HelloBaku<\/a> MT <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GoldenTent\">@GoldenTent<\/a>: <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/EuropeanGames?src=hash\">#EuropeanGames<\/a> aren&#8217;t sporting event but expensive propaganda \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/eminmilli\">@eminmilli<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/oW6fQ8BoRa\">http:\/\/t.co\/oW6fQ8BoRa<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Azerbaijan?src=hash\">#Azerbaijan<\/a> \u2014 Florian Irminger \u270f\ufe0f (@FlorianIrminger) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FlorianIrminger\/status\/585178017229627393\">April 6, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>London-based marketing firm 1000heads, whose clients include Yahoo, Procter &amp; Gamble and Lego, worked with Baku 2015 organisers on #HelloBaku. Index contacted 1000heads to ask whether they were aware of criticisms against Azerbaijan&#8217;s human rights record before taking on the job, and their response to the hijacking of the hashtag.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We were working with BEGOC, the Baku European Games Operation Committee, which is responsible for delivering the event for athletes from the 49 National Olympic Committees of Europe.\u00a0We are no longer involved,&#8221; 1000heads CEO Mike Rowe said in an email.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"www.indexoncensorship.org\/2015\/04\/twitter-users-hijack-hellobaku-to-shine-spotlight-on-azerbaijans-human-rights-abuses\/\">This article was posted on 8 April 2015 at indexoncensorship.org<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The hashtag was launched by organisers of this summer&#8217;s inaugural European Games in the country&#8217;s capital Baku <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":340,"featured_media":62728,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_mi_skip_tracking":false},"categories":[7145,8867,4059,6903,581],"tags":[115,3172,7012,6513,4423,6660,3506,5873],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.indexoncensorship.org\/newsite02may\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65330"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.indexoncensorship.org\/newsite02may\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.indexoncensorship.org\/newsite02may\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.indexoncensorship.org\/newsite02may\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/340"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.indexoncensorship.org\/newsite02may\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=65330"}],"version-history":[{"count":35,"href":"https:\/\/www.indexoncensorship.org\/newsite02may\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65330\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":86987,"href":"https:\/\/www.indexoncensorship.org\/newsite02may\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65330\/revisions\/86987"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.indexoncensorship.org\/newsite02may\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/62728"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.indexoncensorship.org\/newsite02may\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=65330"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.indexoncensorship.org\/newsite02may\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=65330"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.indexoncensorship.org\/newsite02may\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=65330"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}