The Voice of Mirza Xazar

By Emin Milli (Baku, Azerbaijan)

More than 2,000 students defied an unofficial ban on rallies in the city center of Baku on May 1 and gathered near the assaulted university with slogans “No to Terror!”, “No to Corruption!”, and “Declare National Mourning Day!”. Students are shocked with the terror act in the Oil Academy of Azerbaijan which destroyed lives of innocent students and teachers. The students said that if their demands are not met and mourning is not announced, they will gather to another mass demonstration on May 10. May 10 is the birthday of Azerbaijan’s late president Heydar Aliyev (father of the current president) and the government plans to celebrate a "Holiday of Flowers" on this day under the open air and near the same place. Government is refusing to declare mourning day and instead celebrates birthday of "the savior of the nation" with the "Holiday of Flowers".

Is this humiliation ? Is this ignorance? Is this arrogance? Is this disrespect of the entire nation?

Fifteen million manats will be spent just in one day in times of financial crisis for flowers to glorify “the greatest leader of all times”. For comparison the government is planning to spend this year only 10 million manats to send students to study abroad.

Regime in Azerbaijan is on the road to its destiny. It reminds me of all the mistakes and mismanagement of the "safest political regimes" like those mentioned in the book “State of Africa” written by Martin Meredith and also of the path of the last Shah of Iran.

May 10 will be another important moral choice for citizens of Azerbaijan and its current leadership. What will we choose?