In Azerbaijan Local "Princes" are Getting Stronger

• 12.08.2015, 19:53
•  Region,  World

Given the lack of freedom of expression in Azerbaijan, pressures on any form of anti-government sentiments in the country, and a significant number of political prisoners as a result, it seems that President Ilham Aliyev’s power over the country is rather strong. However, it appears that in practice Aliyev’s power has moved mostly to the second plan in administrative units of Azerbaijan's government. The power is in the hands of local authorities in the regions, which also prefer a totalitarian form of government.

Thus, in the official website of the Executive Power of Salyan region there has been posted a photo, where the head of the region Tahir Karimov, is greeted by high school students who stand in line with roses in hands. From the photo it is hard to believe that students welcome Karimov with their own will. In any case, according to haqqin.az, the official website of Executive power has this photo for already two years, but Aliyev who hardly tolerates any attack against his sole control doesn’t do anything against it.

Baku authorities can be considered independent from the government of the Autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan. Unlike the other regions, there are no paintings and sculptures devoted to former President HeydarAliyev in Nakhichevan. Here the local artwork is devoted to the Parliament Speaker Vasif Talibov. In 2006-2007, the latter expelled the international media representatives, as well as that of capital from this autonomous republic, turning Nakhichevan into a "closed zone". It should be noted that Talibov, who is included in ʺpress predatorsʺ list by the organization ʺReporters Without Bordersʺ, is also famous for his odd setbacks, such as foreign music, the international brands, clubs, internet, social networks, hairdressers, tea and other absurd prohibitions.

It is quite possible that the local authorities policy to strengthen their positions at first glance, is in reality implemented in Baku's permission, because it is possible to accuse them for decentralizing the country at any moment and remove quite legally from managerial positions. Nardaran is​​ a vivid example of this policy, where currently Baku authorities have declared a state of emergency accusing them of violating the constitutional order of the local population, because the settlement was guided not by the local government, but by the municipal council. However, it should be noted that it is not a new phenomenon in Nardaran, such management had been in the Soviet times too and the government obviously could not be unaware of it.