Azeri opposition leader accuses president of masterminding attacks on his
party
Yeni Musavat, Baku
8 Aug 05
Excerpt from Kanan’s report by Azerbaijani newspaper Yeni Musavat on 8
August headlined “Ilham Aliyev has been dragging Azerbaijan into
bloodshed” and subheaded “Ali Karimli: ‘We are ready to counter the
authorities by any mean of struggle'”
A big campaign was launched against the PFAP [Peoples Front of
Azerbaijan Party, reformist wing] after the arrest of Ruslan Basirli,
head of the Yeni Fikir [New Thought] youth organization. In line with
the rules of Soviet propaganda, “working people” are making speeches
on TV channels and trained bands have repeatedly made attempts to
stage rallies outside the PFAP office. However, these attempts failed
due to heroism of the party members. The campaign is expanding and the
“working people” now demand the closure of the PFAP.
We yesterday contacted PFAP Chairman Ali Karimli to learn his attitude
to these events. He described them as another black campaign by the
authorities.
[Passage omitted: Karimli says those attempting to stage a rally
outside the party office on 6 August were civil servants]
[Karimli] In fact, the [ruling] New Azerbaijan Party attempted to
bring about a serious civil confrontation in the capital. Over the
past two days, we have seen four attempted attacks on the PFAP and
me. Those attempts were foiled only thanks to bravery and courage of
the PFAP members.
[Azerbaijani President] Ilham Aliyev is dragging us into bloodshed
before the eyes of the whole world. I am saying that Ilham Aliyev is
behind this policy. He is deceiving international organizations
saying that he will hold democratic election. He is putting up a
smokescreen by meaningless decrees and statements. But in reality, he
is dragging the country into a serious confrontation by issuing orders
to all his subordinate [government] bodies.
[Passage omitted: authorities are using all their resources against
the PFAP]
I think this provocation by the government has already been
exposed. This process is about to finish. God willing, the
provocateurs’ identity will be established in the near future. It will
become clear that they were not Armenians, but Georgian citizens
recruited by Azerbaijan’s special services to work as actors in this
special operation [reference to footage showing Basirli’s alleged
meeting with Armenian special agents]. Then this campaign will be
turned against the authorities with all its strength.
[Passage omitted: footage of Basirli’s meeting with alleged Armenian
intelligence officers has undergone many changes]