Convenient dictatorship - Azerbaijan

Georgia’s president, Mikhail Saakashvili, has his own singular methods for dealing with opposition to his corrupt regime. Recent history which has been conveniently forgotten in the rush to acclaim his country as a bastion of freedom in the Caucasus.

Saakashvili is not the only American client in the region. Azerbaijan is corrupt, anti-democratic, repressive and an important strategic ally of the US and Nato. Ilham Aliyev is currently holds the presidency which was conferred on him in much the same fashion as a family heirloom.

On Comment is Free, Nina Ognianova highlights continued abuses of human rights, oppression of press freedom and the lack of democratic credibility which will attend forthcoming elections.

Don’t hold your breath for a storm of western opprobrium. Azerbaijan is too conveniently placed geographically and too rich in oil and gas to consider rocking the boat. Now if the regime were pro-Russian, that would be a different matter.

Comments

yourcousin said…
"Now if the regime were pro-Russian..."

You would be busy falling all over yourself explaining away the abuses and why we in the west just don't understand the complexities of the situation. But that being said let me as an American be the first to robustly and roundly condemn this corrupt regime and urge everyone involved push for democratic reform within Azerbaijan so that they as citizens of the world can enjoy their God given liberties and freedoms just like everyone else.

Now if in return you could condemn the fact that Russia has maintained relations with Khartoum, run interference with in the Security council, and violated a UN arms embargo to regime found to be committing genocide it would be great.
19 September 2008 at 11:40
yourcousin said…
sorry, should read , "to a regime found to be committing genocide"
19 September 2008 at 12:18
Owen Polley said…
"Now if in return you could condemn the fact that Russia has maintained relations with Khartoum, run interference with in the Security council, and violated a UN arms embargo to regime found to be committing genocide it would be great."

Without compunction I condemn Russia for supplying arms to Sudan.
19 September 2008 at 12:40
Anonymous said…
hi, good site very much appreciatted
28 February 2011 at 11:35
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