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| The leader of Azerbaijan’ s opposition Democratic Party of Azerbaijan Rasul Guliyev |
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The leader of Azerbaijan’ s opposition Democratic Party of Azerbaijan Rasul Guliyev's plans to end his nine-year exile in the USA and to return to Azerbaijan to take part in the country’s parliamentary elections caused serious tensions. In the capital of Azerbaijan, police have blocked access to the city's airport and said it will arrest Guliev if he enters the country. He knew about that, and claimed in an interview with the Azeri service of the BBC, he does not fear arrest. "I come to fight for victory in the parliamentary elections. My goal is to fight dictatorship, corruption and monopolies in Azerbaijan." However, his glorious homecoming turned into a farce as at the last minute he got cold legs and decided not to come back, but to stop in Ukraine. He refused to continue the flight on the chartered plane. And there, at Simferopol's airport he was arrested by Ukrainian law enforcement, for he is on the international wanted list. Guliev was detained at the request of Azerbaijani authorities, which seek his extradition, the press secretary of Ukraine's interior Minister said. So he lost twice – he didn't manage to get home and got arrested anyway. And his supporters, who were ready to fight for him with the Azerbaijani security services, known for their brutality, are very disappointed. "I urge the Azerbaijani authorities to avoid any oppression (of civil rights) and I call on the nation to stage civil unrest against violations of human rights," Rasul Guliev said in an October 11 telephone conference call scheduled by the Committee for the Protection of his rights. The people were ready but the leader failed them. Who is this man and was he worth fighting for in the first place?
A Close Friend and the Harsh Foe of Heydar Aliev
Guliev is married and has two sons and a daughter. He was born in 1948 in Nakhichevan in a southeast of Azerbaijan, as well as Heydar Aliyev. Since 1962, after graduating petro-mechanical faculty of the Azerbaijan institute of oil and chemistry (today - Azerbaijan State Oil Academy (ASOA), he worked at the Baky Oil Refinery. Has made there an outstanding career - from the ordinary engineer up to the general director. He is a candidate of Technical Science.
In 1990 year he was elected the Member of the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan, and then, after Azerbaijan gaining independence, the Member of National Parliament. Together with the opposition he struggled against the regime of the President Ayaz Mutalibov.
At the beginning of the Nineties he contacted with Heydar Aliyev - the former head of the KGB in Azerbaijan and the Member of the Political Bureau. At the beginning of 1993, some months prior to revolution as a result of which Aliyev came to power, Guliev received a post of vice-president of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijani Republic (SOCAR), and later became the vice-Premier of Azerbaijan. After his coming to power Aliyev appointed Guliev the chairman of the Parliament.
In November, 1995 he was again elected to the Parliament, and again held a post of the chairman.
Owing to the deterioration of relations with Heydar Aliyev in September, 1996 Rasul Guliev abandoned the post "because of the health problems" and leaves for the USA "for medical treatment". Already being in America he accused Aliyev and his coterie of corruption, clanning and lawlessness. He issued three books in which sharply criticized the ruling elite of Azerbaijan. ("Oil And Politics", "Path To Democracy" and "Purpose Of Our Struggle".)
At the end of 1997 under the decision of the Azerbaijani Parliament Guliev was deprived of parliamentary immunity; criminal proceeding against him was instituted. Guliev was accused that being in 1990-95 the director of the Baku Oil Refinery he defalcated $107 million.
In 1998, already being abroad, Guliev was elected the co-chairman of Democratic Party of Azerbaijan (established in 1992). After the split of the party in 2000 Rasul Guliev became its only leader.
In the spring of 2005 Democratic Party enters oppositional bloc "Azadliq", which includes "Musavat" - "Equality" – the oldest and the biggest opposition movement led by Isa Gambar, and the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (APFP) under the leadership of Ali Kerimli.
On August, 27, 2005, Guliev was registered by the Central Electoral Committee as the candidate to the Parliament. After this in connection with his statements on his return to Azerbaijan the Office of Public Prosecutor of Azerbaijan issued an arrest warrant on him.
An Oppositionist or a Crook?
Guliev is rightfully considered to be the largest independent Azerbaijani oligarch. Presumably, he gained his fortune at the beginning of the Nineties by reselling oil abroad under cover of "waste products," when he headed Baku's Refinery. He is extremely ambitious and combines features of speculator and master of secret intrigue. Being a director of the largest factory in republic and vice-President of SOCAR, he actively influenced the policy of the first two Azerbaijani governments, and Presidents Ayaz Mutalibov and Abulfaz Elchibey. He used his financial opportunities and connections to assist Heydar Aliyev's coming to power and in 1993-96 became actually, despite of a puppet post of the chairman of the Parliament, the second person in the country after the President. However, it was insufficient for ambitious magnate, and he made unsuccessful attempt to push Aliyev aside from authority, and was compelled to flee the country.
Overthrown by Aliyev Abulfaz Elchibey openly accused Guliev of treachery. "Rasul, you have knocked me down," he declared, addressing Guliev, who was already over the ocean.
The political program of Democratic Party is rather dim. Except for appeals to "democracy and free economy", Guliev did not define his position on key questions for Azerbaijan, such as social problems, strengthening of Islamic tendencies, and, most important, the Karabakh question - an integral part of all political programs in Azerbaijan.
Towards the authorities he takes extremely radical position, demanding from opposition a "revolutionary" - that is violent actions to overthrow the regime. He asserts that the establishment of democracy in the republic is possible only by applying force.
Main electorate of Guliev consists of the natives from Nakhichevan. During all his political activity Guliev constantly changed allies and views concerning the methods of political struggle. Being a short time partner of Elchibey, he demanded to exclude from the Popular Front of Azerbaijan (PFA) the "Yurd" – (Homeland) youth organization led by Ali Kerimli. Guliev accused Kerimli of cooperation with authorities. Today Kerimli is a partner of Guliev in "Azadliq" - the largest oppositional bloc.
At the end of the Nineties he rejected the idea of creation of the bloc of oppositional forces, sharply criticizing the oldest and largest opposition party "Musavat", however, before the presidential elections in October, 2003, he declared of his support to Isa Gambar, and in the spring 2005, he joined the "Azadliq" bloc.
Guliev's Strange Choice Of Actions
At the initial stage Rasul Guliev received the US support, however, because of a scandal around his financial swindles and unpredictable changes in his political views and constant changing of political allies Washington began to distance from him.
As the General Prosecutor of Azerbaijan Zakir Garalov stated "Claims that the US will support Guliev are mere "political speculation". This may be the reason for such a strange behavior of Guliev. As the AIA sources in Baku reported, his decision to come back home was not coordinated with the US authorities.
He planned it with the other opposition leaders, who, after his arrest by the Azerbaijani security would have publicly turned to the USA demanding to support "the leading democratic leader", and to pressure Baku's regime on his release. Of course in the case of success his chances to win the elections would have skyrocketed, for the people would see him as the leader, who is backed up by such a superpower as America.
There are two possibilities, our sources note. The USA didn't like the idea to be presented with a fait accompli and actually blackmailed in a certain way to take rush actions. It seems that Americans do not consider Guliev as trustworthy ally and true democrat. Somebody, lets say from the State Department may have hinted Guliev that his trick will nor work and the Americans will not apply pressure on Baku. Or there is an option that certain opposition leaders in Azerbaijan decided to walk away from the plan, considering it unfair, for they are struggling with the regime for many years and Guliev plans to use them to gain what they where fighting for a long time.
Anyway, the "homecoming" fiasco may totally hamper not only his chances at the elections but and cost him a bitter price, for his supporters fell betrayed.
Related items:
Etibar Mamedov - Eternal Oppositionist Without Any Chance to Win (03.10.05)
Ali Kerimli - Caucasian Revolutionary of the Pro-Western Orientation (28.09.05)
Lala Hajiyeva - the Female Face of the Azerbaijani Opposition (16.09.05)
Isa Gambar - Leader of the Largest Opposition Bloc (12.09.05)
Ilham Aliyev: Might-Have-Been Soviet Diplomat Turned into a Caspian Oil Owner (10.09.05)
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