In a surprise move, Russia pulled its forces out of Karabakh unilaterally. This has great geostrategic and political implications that also reflect Moscow’s confidence and its ability to maintain influence in the Caucasus region.
The Aliyev regime in Azerbaijan is well-known for its persecution of committed Muslims. So, what explains its interest in trying to position itself as a champion against Islamophobia as evident from holding anti-Islamophobia conferences?
The United Nations was created to prevent the eruption of future wars but it has been a roaring failure. Far from solving any problems, it has created many. Whose interests does it serve?
Aliyevs, the ruling clan in Azerbaijan, is using the Karabakh conflict to secure their future even though they connived with Armenian nationalists and committed treason by handing over the region to Armenians in 1994. The wild card in this equation is Russia.
Last month’s massive protests in Azerbaijan were sparked by its humiliation in clashes with Armenian forces. A leading Azeri general was killed. The regime launched a crackdown of opposition forces, claiming Armenia would exploit the protests and cause further damage to Azerbaijan
With the emergence of the Huseyniyyun organization in Azerbaijan, the Aliyev regime has lost its monopoly on force. It bodes ill for the autocratic ruler.
The heroic act of Yunis Safarov has led to social earthquake in Azerbaijan putting the dictatorial regime in a bind: ignore the protests and appear weak, use the iron-fist and provoke more backlash.
Whereas the Aliyev regime’s brutal crackdown of Islamic activists has failed to cow them down, it will in fact result in the shortening of the regime’s shelf-life.
Three countries in South Asia—Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan—have between them enormous mineral and energy resources. This makes them the special target of predatory powers.
2In June 2010, we published this commentary on the conflict in Karabakh. We reproduce it in view of the renewed conflict underway in Karabakh today between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Change is in the wind in Central Asia and the Caucasus. How Iran and Russia manage their affairs and relations will have profound impact on future developments.
The dictatorial regime of Ilham Aliyev, a throwback to the Soviet era, clings to primitive methods to block accurate news, especially relating to imprisonment of Islamic movement activists, from reaching the people. Islamazari, one of the most popular websites in Azerbaijan is the frequent victim of such attacks, the latest being just two days ago. Such tactics will backfire on the regime.
The illegitimate Aliyev regime is determined to cling to power at any cost, including starting a civil war in the country that would cost it dearly.
Crescent International is providing a brief chronology of the confrontation between the Aliyev regime and the Islamic movement in Azerbaijan as the regime is severely restricting most of non-regime controlled media through coercive action.
The dictatorial regime in Azerbaijan massacres innocent Muslims, and arrests the leader of the Islamic movement, Sheikh Tale Baqirzade. What has prompted the illegitimate regime to resort to such tactics and whose interests does it serve. We examine the issue as information is still trickling in from Azerbaijan...