MAHMOUDALI CHOHRAGANLI: I WAS DEPORTED FROM AZERBAIJAN
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 12 2006
Leader of the South Azerbaijan National Awakening Movement Mahmoudali
Chohraganli gave an exclusive interview to APA.
In his interview, Mr.Chohraganli touched on his visits to Turkey and
Azerbaijan and commented on some issues related to his sending back
to the United States.
-This was a special visit. I have never paid such a visit to Turkey.
We were met with special importance and respect in this visit. We had
fruitful talks with heads of a number of Turkish organizations and
intellectuals as well. Turkey’s security service officers detained
me while I was being interviewed by the “Turkey” newspaper.
-What have you been told about the causes of your detention by
security police?
-There was no illegal cause. High raking officers talked to me at
the police station. They told me that there is a treaty on security
between Turkey and Iran. If I do not leave Turkey, relations with Iran
can be broken. They also said there was a danger to my life. I was also
told that a special gang is in Istanbul to kill me. I must remind that
when I was holding a press conference in Istanbul one day before that
event, 40 or 50 people provoked by Iran were posting pickets outside
the building. They were shouting anti-US slogans and praising Iran.
-Did you arrive in Azerbaijan by your own wish?
-Yes I did. Thus, my upcoming arrival at Baku was made public a month
ago, and I had given an interview regarding this visit.
-What have you been told in Azerbaijan?
-We were registered at a hotel in Baku. I was interviewed by ANS and
two more TV channels of Azerbaijan within few hours. Security police
detained us when we were going to lunch. Though we were told to be
taken to the station first, I realized that they were going to take
me and my family to the airport. It was my wish to leave for New York
City from the airport.
-Do you know the reason why the Azerbaijani law enforcement bodies
detained you?
-My presence in Baku troubled some and the Azerbaijani government
took a step taking account Iran’s intention fulfilling the Farsi
chauvinism’s intention. There was nothing illegal in my arrival at
Baku, I had a visa. However, I was deported from Azerbaijan.
-What are you going to do after that?
-The Azerbaijani government did not do rightly. I lost my confidence
in the Azerbaijani police. I have thought my family’s safety could be
guaranteed. However, I and my family were taken to the airport in a
very disrespectful manner. They did not even let us take our things
and say goodbye to our friends. After being detained at the airport
for ten or twelve hours, we set off for New York. This event is likely
pleased the Farsi regime, Armenians and enemies of Azerbaijan.
-Did US Embassies in Turkey and Azerbaijan have any interference in
these events?
-No, I was not informed about this. On the other hand, I was told that
was a state decision. I think there was no need for the US interference
in this matter. I’ll make serious changes to our further steps. Though
our target remains the same, our tactics needs changing. It was clear
that 35 million of nation will determine its fortune by themselves
and if they want freedom, they will achieve it.
It turned out that the ruling party here does not care about the
freedom of South Azerbaijan. The northern Azerbaijani authorities
have never rendered any support to their southern compatriots and
they neither want to raise this issue. These processes disappointed
Azerbaijan’s friends. We realized that we should get better knowledge
of ourselves and our power. We think about whether we have brothers
around us.