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BAKU HOSTS EUROVISION FINAL AMID PROTESTS OVER RIGHTS RECORD (VIDEO)
Http://Www.Tert.Am/En/News/2012/05/26/Baku-Protests/
26.05.12
Azerbaijan hosts the 2012 Eurovision song contest final on May
26 despite protests over the country's poor rights record, RFE/RL
Azerbaijan reports.
A total of 26 finalists will take the stage in the capital Baku for
the final.
On the eve of this year's event, police on May 25 detained dozens of
anti-government protesters in Baku.
Azerbaijan's authoritarian government has sought to use the Eurovision
song contest to present the oil-rich country as a modern, prosperous
state, and has spent millions of dollars on improvements in the
capital.
Opposition activists have seized on the increased international media
presence to draw attention to alleged human rights abuses.
Ali Kerimli, the leader of Azerbaijan's opposition People's Popular
Front party, says authorities have done nothing to improve the rights
situation in the country.
Kerimli was summoned to a police station in Baku on May 26 over the
latest anti-government protests.
"We expected that the Eurovision [Song Contest] would attract attention
to Azerbaijan and this is what happened." He said. "In the last months,
very influential European mass media outlets have paid attention to
Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan's problems. And we are pleased with this.
"But sadly, the Azeri authorities did nothing to improve the situation
in the country and use this chance to show the world that Azerbaijan
has started reforming. This did not happen, unfortunately," he said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Http://Www.Tert.Am/En/News/2012/05/26/Baku-Protests/
26.05.12
Azerbaijan hosts the 2012 Eurovision song contest final on May
26 despite protests over the country's poor rights record, RFE/RL
Azerbaijan reports.
A total of 26 finalists will take the stage in the capital Baku for
the final.
On the eve of this year's event, police on May 25 detained dozens of
anti-government protesters in Baku.
Azerbaijan's authoritarian government has sought to use the Eurovision
song contest to present the oil-rich country as a modern, prosperous
state, and has spent millions of dollars on improvements in the
capital.
Opposition activists have seized on the increased international media
presence to draw attention to alleged human rights abuses.
Ali Kerimli, the leader of Azerbaijan's opposition People's Popular
Front party, says authorities have done nothing to improve the rights
situation in the country.
Kerimli was summoned to a police station in Baku on May 26 over the
latest anti-government protests.
"We expected that the Eurovision [Song Contest] would attract attention
to Azerbaijan and this is what happened." He said. "In the last months,
very influential European mass media outlets have paid attention to
Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan's problems. And we are pleased with this.
"But sadly, the Azeri authorities did nothing to improve the situation
in the country and use this chance to show the world that Azerbaijan
has started reforming. This did not happen, unfortunately," he said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress