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Global Voices Online
Aug 30 2014
Azerbaijan's President Doesn't Really Get Twitter. He Doesn't Really
Get Azerbaijan, Either
Whatever country Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev is tweeting
about, it can't be Azerbaijan.
In Azerbaijan, innocent men and women are thrown into jail on trumped
up charges. Corruption is so ingrained that the Organized Crime and
Corruption Reporting project named Aliyev as its Person of the Year in
2012. Public morale is low, people live in a constant state of fear,
and the dominant regime rigs its way to victory at every election. Nor
are things good with the neighbors: the ongoing conflict between
Armenia and Azerbaijan, more than two decades old, isn't about to
resolve itself any time soon.
But one man sees Azerbaijan through a different lens. Ilham Aliyev,
who inherited the position of Head of State from his father, Heydar
Aliyev, is not only of the opinion that Azerbaijan is doing well, but
that it is winning on every front ` politically, economically, and
most importantly, militarily. To share his opinions Aliyev takes to
Twitter where one can find him under @presidentaz. For anyone familiar
with Azerbaijani realities, the presidential feed is bitterly ironic,
if at times darkly entertaining.
The persons in charge of President Aliyev's Twitter account seem to
have little knowledge of the platform and its aim. The president's
tweets often end in (cont) and a link to the `Twit longer' app, more
or less defeating the purpose of Twitter. Elsewhere in the post-Soviet
world, authoritarians have figured out that succinct means success in
social media. But Aliyev's feed reads like one long speech regularly
interrupted by a pesky 140 character limit. Often the tweets on his
English-language feed lack grammar and appear to contradict
themselves.
Most problematically of all, though ' the feed is full of lies.
Azerbaijan is probably the freest country in the world
One of the topics Aliyev is happiest to tweet about is freedom and how
much of it Azerbaijan has. Apparently, plenty:
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
The freedom of assembly is fully guaranteed in our country. The
freedom of religion is also fully provided in our country.
Religious rights organization Forum 18, disagrees, noting: 'freedom of
religion or belief and related human rights such as the freedom of
expression and of assembly remain highly restricted' in Azerbaijan.
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
The freedom of assembly is fully guaranteed in our country. The
freedom of religion is also fully provided in our country.
4:54 AM - 16 Jun 2014
Religious rights organization Forum 18, disagrees, noting: 'freedom of
religion or belief and related human rights such as the freedom of
expression and of assembly remain highly restricted' in Azerbaijan.
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
We`ve put a lot of efforts to develop democracy, rule of law, provide
fundamental freedoms.
Again, the ongoing crackdown in Azerbaijan paints a different picture.
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
We stand for the freedom of the media because freedom of the media
means democracy. The media help the (cont) http://tl.gd/n_1s29ag9
Aliyev's critics maintain the country's leadership has ensured no such
media exists. So-called `linkages between the government and society'
come in the form of cheap shows about dating, marriage, and news
segments that have very little respect for journalism.
Reporters Without Borders rated Azerbaijan 160th out of 180 countries
in its 2014 Press Freedom Index.
We love peace but we are always ready for war. Always.
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
Only the peace-loving policy of the Azerbaijani state is a guarantor
of stability in the region.
It is hard to say which stability @presidentaz is talking about and
what is meant by the general reference to the `region'. The conflict
with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh has simmered since before
independence, boiling over in sporadic border fights between the two
countries.
In early August @presidentaz caught the attention of the world media
by threatening to reignite war with Armenia after the deaths of
Azerbaijani soldiers in contested territory.
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
The war is not over. Only the first stage of it is. But the second
stage may start too.
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
Just as we have beaten the Armenians on the political and economic
fronts, we are able to defeat them on the battlefield.
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
We will restore all of the occupied and destroyed cities. We will
return to this land, we live and will live with this idea.
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
We will restore our sovereignty. The flag of Azerbaijan will fly in
all the occupied territories, including Shusha and Khankandi.
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
Our position is based on justice and international law. Our principled
stance has earned us further respect both in the region and the world
A global role model
As the country develops @presidentaz believes `the reputation of
Azerbaijan is gradually enhancing'. In fact, his government is doing
so well, it can serve as an inspiration for other states around the
world.
In fighting corruption:
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
Azerbaijan`s experience which completely eliminates corruption and
ensures transparency in provision of (cont) http://tl.gd/n_1s2aou8
`Collecting money':
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
If transparency had not been provided, we could not have collected so
much money.
Providing housing:
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
By the end of this year the number of handed out apartments will reach 500.
And ensuring equality:
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
Equitable distribution of national wealth is one of the major
achievements of our country. As a result, the (cont)
http://tl.gd/n_1s29ah9
Finally, if any of that seems like fantasy, @presidentaz reminds readers:
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
Our words never differ from our actions.
For more continue reading directly from his Twitter account @presidentaz.
Aug 30 2014
Azerbaijan's President Doesn't Really Get Twitter. He Doesn't Really
Get Azerbaijan, Either
Whatever country Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev is tweeting
about, it can't be Azerbaijan.
In Azerbaijan, innocent men and women are thrown into jail on trumped
up charges. Corruption is so ingrained that the Organized Crime and
Corruption Reporting project named Aliyev as its Person of the Year in
2012. Public morale is low, people live in a constant state of fear,
and the dominant regime rigs its way to victory at every election. Nor
are things good with the neighbors: the ongoing conflict between
Armenia and Azerbaijan, more than two decades old, isn't about to
resolve itself any time soon.
But one man sees Azerbaijan through a different lens. Ilham Aliyev,
who inherited the position of Head of State from his father, Heydar
Aliyev, is not only of the opinion that Azerbaijan is doing well, but
that it is winning on every front ` politically, economically, and
most importantly, militarily. To share his opinions Aliyev takes to
Twitter where one can find him under @presidentaz. For anyone familiar
with Azerbaijani realities, the presidential feed is bitterly ironic,
if at times darkly entertaining.
The persons in charge of President Aliyev's Twitter account seem to
have little knowledge of the platform and its aim. The president's
tweets often end in (cont) and a link to the `Twit longer' app, more
or less defeating the purpose of Twitter. Elsewhere in the post-Soviet
world, authoritarians have figured out that succinct means success in
social media. But Aliyev's feed reads like one long speech regularly
interrupted by a pesky 140 character limit. Often the tweets on his
English-language feed lack grammar and appear to contradict
themselves.
Most problematically of all, though ' the feed is full of lies.
Azerbaijan is probably the freest country in the world
One of the topics Aliyev is happiest to tweet about is freedom and how
much of it Azerbaijan has. Apparently, plenty:
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
The freedom of assembly is fully guaranteed in our country. The
freedom of religion is also fully provided in our country.
Religious rights organization Forum 18, disagrees, noting: 'freedom of
religion or belief and related human rights such as the freedom of
expression and of assembly remain highly restricted' in Azerbaijan.
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
The freedom of assembly is fully guaranteed in our country. The
freedom of religion is also fully provided in our country.
4:54 AM - 16 Jun 2014
Religious rights organization Forum 18, disagrees, noting: 'freedom of
religion or belief and related human rights such as the freedom of
expression and of assembly remain highly restricted' in Azerbaijan.
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
We`ve put a lot of efforts to develop democracy, rule of law, provide
fundamental freedoms.
Again, the ongoing crackdown in Azerbaijan paints a different picture.
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
We stand for the freedom of the media because freedom of the media
means democracy. The media help the (cont) http://tl.gd/n_1s29ag9
Aliyev's critics maintain the country's leadership has ensured no such
media exists. So-called `linkages between the government and society'
come in the form of cheap shows about dating, marriage, and news
segments that have very little respect for journalism.
Reporters Without Borders rated Azerbaijan 160th out of 180 countries
in its 2014 Press Freedom Index.
We love peace but we are always ready for war. Always.
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
Only the peace-loving policy of the Azerbaijani state is a guarantor
of stability in the region.
It is hard to say which stability @presidentaz is talking about and
what is meant by the general reference to the `region'. The conflict
with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh has simmered since before
independence, boiling over in sporadic border fights between the two
countries.
In early August @presidentaz caught the attention of the world media
by threatening to reignite war with Armenia after the deaths of
Azerbaijani soldiers in contested territory.
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
The war is not over. Only the first stage of it is. But the second
stage may start too.
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
Just as we have beaten the Armenians on the political and economic
fronts, we are able to defeat them on the battlefield.
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
We will restore all of the occupied and destroyed cities. We will
return to this land, we live and will live with this idea.
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
We will restore our sovereignty. The flag of Azerbaijan will fly in
all the occupied territories, including Shusha and Khankandi.
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
Our position is based on justice and international law. Our principled
stance has earned us further respect both in the region and the world
A global role model
As the country develops @presidentaz believes `the reputation of
Azerbaijan is gradually enhancing'. In fact, his government is doing
so well, it can serve as an inspiration for other states around the
world.
In fighting corruption:
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
Azerbaijan`s experience which completely eliminates corruption and
ensures transparency in provision of (cont) http://tl.gd/n_1s2aou8
`Collecting money':
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
If transparency had not been provided, we could not have collected so
much money.
Providing housing:
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
By the end of this year the number of handed out apartments will reach 500.
And ensuring equality:
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
Equitable distribution of national wealth is one of the major
achievements of our country. As a result, the (cont)
http://tl.gd/n_1s29ah9
Finally, if any of that seems like fantasy, @presidentaz reminds readers:
Ilham Aliyev `' @presidentaz Follow
Our words never differ from our actions.
For more continue reading directly from his Twitter account @presidentaz.