Azerbaijan's Political Spectrum: Authoritarian Or Democratic?

Azerbaijan is a transcontinental country in Eastern Europe and Western Asia, with a long history of political upheaval. Since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Azerbaijan has been considered an illiberal and consolidated authoritarian regime, with power concentrated in the hands of President Ilham Aliyev and his extended family. The country ranks among the worst in the world for freedom of the press, and critics of the government and dissenting voices face a hostile environment.

Azerbaijan's use of anti-colonial rhetoric to justify authoritarianism

Azerbaijan is an authoritarian regime that has been ruled by the Aliyev family since 1993. The country's president, Ilham Aliyev, was installed in 2003 after the death of his father, Heydar Aliyev, who had been in power since 1993.

Azerbaijan has recently intensified its use of anti-colonial rhetoric, particularly targeting France. This shift in foreign policy is a reflection of diplomatic tensions with France, stemming from a contentious arms deal between France and Armenia. In July 2023, Azerbaijan hosted the "First Congress of Independence Movements from French-Colonised Territories", organised by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG), an NGO closely linked to the Azerbaijani government. During the conference, Abbas Abbasov, the head of BIG, criticised "French pioneers of democracy" for violating human rights in colonised regions.

Azerbaijan's use of anti-colonial rhetoric is strategic and instrumentalised to justify its authoritarian tendencies and to pursue right-wing political goals. By focusing solely on France's colonial history while ignoring that of other countries, including its close partner Britain, Azerbaijan's government instrumentalises the anti-colonial narrative for authoritarian purposes. This selective anti-colonialism is also evident in the country's membership in the Non-Aligned Movement, a forum established for developing countries refusing to align with major power blocs. However, the movement has been led by autocrats, and Azerbaijan's increased activity in the group aligns with its shift towards illiberal countries.

Azerbaijan's anti-colonial rhetoric is also used to criticise Western countries, particularly France and the USA, for their involvement in the region and to reject Western liberalism and democracy. This approach mirrors tactics employed by right-wing populists internationally, such as in Hungary and Turkey, where anti-colonial rhetoric is used to justify increasing repression and an anti-Western turn.

Azerbaijan's anti-Western agenda is further demonstrated in its media. In November 2023, state-controlled AzTV released a report accusing the US of "dirty games" in Azerbaijan, including sending spies, "spreading the LGBT system", and harming national-conservative values. This report aligns with broader anti-colonial and anti-Western rhetoric, contributing to the crackdown on independent media and civil society in the country.

In summary, Azerbaijan employs anti-colonial rhetoric as a strategic tool to justify its authoritarianism, target Western countries, and advance its geopolitical agenda.

The country's poor human rights record

Azerbaijan has a poor human rights record, with power concentrated in the hands of President Ilham Aliyev and his extended family. The country is considered an illiberal and consolidated authoritarian regime, with civil rights limited and human rights abuses widespread.

The country ranks among the worst in the world in terms of freedom of the press, and critics of the government and dissenting voices face a hostile environment. Intimidation, arrests, and the use of force against journalists and human rights activists have been reported, and there are legal restrictions on the internet, including the criminalisation of online "libel" and "abuse".

Freedom of assembly is restricted, with unsanctioned protests forcefully dispersed and demonstrators detained. There is also a lack of fair trials, with arbitrary arrests and detention, politically motivated imprisonment, lengthy pre-trial detention, and executive interference in the judiciary.

The regime systematically represses civil society and democratic movements, with peaks taking the form of crackdowns. For example, in 2014, the government jailed various members of government-critical and pro-democracy movements on bogus charges, including dissenting journalists, activists, and bloggers. The regime also tightened legislation on NGOs, making it virtually impossible to obtain donations from abroad, making organised dissent more difficult and financially unsustainable.

Another crackdown took place in 2023, with the regime targeting members of newly formed democratic movements, such as the Workers' Table Trade Unions Confederation, whose chair, Afiaddin Mammadov, was detained and sentenced to 30 days of detention on bogus charges for his effort to unionise Wolt delivery drivers.

The regime also uses government-affiliated media to smear and stigmatise dissenting voices, such as anti-war activists opposing the Second Karabakh War. For example, in August 2023, government-affiliated media started a smear campaign against the Feminist Peace Collective, accusing them of being tied to George Soros and serving "Armenia's interests" through their pro-LGBTQ activities and criticism of the Lachin blockade.

Repression has also targeted religious Shia Muslims for potential ties with Iran, opposition scholars for their research on the misuse of public funds, and independent media outlets for their investigations into government corruption.

Systematic repression of civil society and democratic movements

Azerbaijan is an authoritarian regime with a consolidated system of repression of civil society and democratic movements. The country is ruled by an autocratic regime with power concentrated in the hands of President Ilham Aliyev and his extended family.

The regime systematically represses civil society and democratic movements, with peaks taking the form of crackdowns. One of the most famous democratic movements, N!DA, which aimed to defend constitutional and human rights and preserve democratic values, was repressed by the government in 2014. Its members, including journalists, activists, and bloggers, were jailed on bogus charges.

The regime has also tightened legislation on NGOs, making it difficult for them to operate and obtain donations from abroad. This has made organized dissent, including democratic movements, more difficult and financially unsustainable.

In the summer of 2023, the government escalated its repression, targeting newly formed democratic movements. For example, the chair of the Workers' Table Trade Unions Confederation, Afiaddin Mammadov, was detained and sentenced to 30 days of detention on bogus charges. The real reason for his arrest was his effort to unionize Wolt delivery drivers, who had organized strikes to protest the lack of workers' rights.

Another example is the Third Republican Platform, a government-critical movement that favors a small government and decentralization. One of its founding members, Araz Aliyev, was detained for 25 days, and other members were subject to pressure and intimidation from the police.

The regime also uses government-affiliated media to smear and stigmatize dissenting voices, such as anti-war activists opposing the Second Karabakh War. In August 2023, the Feminist Peace Collective (FPC), a government-critical movement, was targeted by a smear campaign after it condemned the government for the humanitarian crisis it caused in Armenian-populated Karabakh due to its blockade of the Lachin corridor.

In addition to targeting democratic movements, the regime has also repressed religious Shia Muslims, opposition scholars, and independent media outlets that investigate government corruption.

The Aliyev regime's control of the media

Azerbaijan is ruled by an authoritarian regime under the Aliyev family, who have been in power since 1969. Ilham Aliyev, the current president, has been accused of using the country's oil wealth to silence critics and suppress press freedom.

The Aliyev regime has a tight grip on the media in Azerbaijan, with journalists facing harassment, blackmail, and violence for their reporting. The regime has also been accused of using complex money-laundering and bribery schemes to influence foreign media and deflect criticism.

One example of the Aliyev regime's control of the media is the case of Rasim Aliyev, a journalist who was physically attacked and later died due to his reporting on a soccer player's controversial gesture. While several people were arrested and charged in connection with his death, some believe that the Azerbaijani government was involved, and that the hospital staff may have contributed to his death.

Additionally, the regime has been accused of using anti-colonial rhetoric to further suppress dissent and justify its authoritarianism. This includes targeting specific countries, such as France, while ignoring the colonial histories of its economic partners.

The country's undemocratic elections

Azerbaijan is considered an authoritarian regime, with power concentrated in the hands of President Ilham Aliyev and his extended family. The country's politics take place within this authoritarian system, where elections are not free and fair, civil rights are limited, human rights abuses are widespread, and corruption is rampant.

The ruling New Azerbaijan Party, headed by Aliyev, controls all the electoral commissions in the country. Elections in Azerbaijan are often predictable, with President Aliyev and his party maintaining an iron grip on power through fraudulent votes. International observers have never deemed an election in Azerbaijan to be free and fair.

The 2020 parliamentary elections, for example, produced an overwhelming pro-presidential majority, but the results in four electoral districts were invalidated due to complaints of fraud. However, no re-run elections have been scheduled for these districts, and the government has shown little urgency in filling these parliamentary vacancies. This indicates a lack of concern for maintaining a democratic facade and highlights the authoritarian nature of the regime.

The Aliyev regime systematically represses civil society and democratic movements. For instance, after the 2013 presidential elections, the government jailed members of the pro-democracy movement N!DA on bogus charges, including dissenting journalists, activists, and bloggers. The regime also tightened legislation on NGOs, making it difficult for organized dissent to sustain itself financially.

In summary, the country's undemocratic elections are characterized by widespread fraud, repression of dissenting voices, and a lack of concern for democratic principles. These elections are a tool for the Aliyev regime to maintain and consolidate its authoritarian power in Azerbaijan.

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