Azerbaijan: Truth is Like the Sun

• 01.31.2016, 10:14
• Greta Avetisyan
•  Region,  World,  Analytics

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 Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain't goin' away.

Elvis Presley

Truth is always there, simply for some time it may not be visible, because of being very carefully hidden. This is the case with Azerbaijan. The authorities in the country had created an illusion that their state is so wealthy, so stable and powerful that nothing can affect it, even the decrease in oil prices. This was saying a country that is mostly dependent on oil revenues. This was a myth that the whole Azerbaijani society believed, but which no more exists.

Azerbaijan entered 2016 with a new reality – depreciation of manat, rise of prices in the country and protests of people – those people, who had never before dared to take the streets, but who had no other choice taking into account the situation in which they are now.

Right yesterday, on January 30, the World Bank in Azerbaijan declared that they, together with the Azerbaijani authorities are discussing new measures to promote  financial stabilization, particularly it will be structural reforms. At the same time in his every speech Azerbaijani President Aliyev declares that the situation in the country is under control, he has even declared about some reforms concerning the development of non-oil sectors of the country, improving the business environment with the help of international experts, etc. Moreover, despite the economic crisis that Azerbaijan now faces, increase of salaries has been declared.

It is clear that such measures are quite artificial and they are mainly being done to calm down the Azerbaijani society, which for the first time of its history took the streets to protest against the politics of their Authorities. This was really unprecedented in its size and geography. Protests were held in Lenkoran, Fizuli, Agjabedi, Agsu and Siyazan regions. In some regions even clashes took place between the protesters and the police and as a result, people were arrested.

In regard with these protests two important things should be mentioned. First, these protests were not organized by any political party. They rather represented the civil disobedience, which made it more difficult for Baku authorities to put pressure on the protests. Second, the situation had become so uncontrolled that even the media that was very careful in what it was writing, now in details is covering the social protests in the country.

"International practice, experience of individual countries show that if at first, devaluation causes concern, leading to emergence of excitement among the population, at a later stage, it may become an impetus to the dynamic development of economy, as well as financial and banking system of the country. On the other hand, the devaluation has expanded the possibilities for maneuvering of the Azerbaijani government, created an opportunity for the adoption of additional measures in the social sphere," Azerbaijani president’s aide for public and political affairs Ali Hasanov said, azernews.az reports.

Despite such optimism, exchange offices and banks continue cosing in Azerbaijan. Already 7 banks have been closed, the last one on January 28.

This shows that Azerbaijani authorities are unable to do anything with the current situation, even the fact that protests were held not once and not in one place, means that the old ways to threaten the society do not work anymore. The situation here is quite complex and it seems that the social protests will grow into political ones, as the true politics of the Azerbaijani authorities are gradually opening and the society understands in what myth they were living before.