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:
1) Azerbaijan’s human rights community has been all but wiped out over the past year
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
2) In light of the human rights situation in Azerbaijan, the EOC is not free of responsibility…
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
3) …and neither are European states
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
4) The Azerbaijani government has invested in an international PR campaign — and it’s working
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
5) The games are not popular among ordinary Azerbaijanis
“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
6) Sports journalists should report on more than just sports during the games
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
7) Despite Azerbaijan’s current climate, human rights activism remains important and worthwhile
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
