Bahruz Samadov

13 Posts

0 Followers

Bahruz is a political activist and PhD candidate at Charles University in Prague.

Erdogan and Aliyev. Illustration: Tamar Shvelidze/OC Media

Azerbaijan–Israel Relations

Opinion | Azerbaijan’s cooling relations with Turkey

by Bahruz Samadov

•5 min read

Bahruz Samadov submitted this article shortly before his arrest on 21 August. He was charged with treason on 23 August, and could face 12–20 years in prison or a life sentence if found guilty. Despite long being ‘brotherly’ nations, the Israel-Gaza war appears to have exacerbated existing tensions between Turkey and Azerbaijan, potentially pushing the two countries apart irrevocably. In recent months, relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey have been uncharacteristically cool. To observers

Azerbaijan

Opinion | How Azerbaijan uses ‘anti-colonialism’ to authoritarian ends

by Bahruz Samadov

•6 min read

Azerbaijan’s official statements have in recent months taken a new turn, using anti-colonial rhetoric to criticise Western countries for their involvement in the region. In doing so, discourse that originated in criticism of the oppressive use of power is being used to justify the country’s move towards even greater authoritarianism. Azerbaijan’s relationship with the West has long been unstable, with its occasional advances uneasily alternating with denouncements of Western criticism of Azer

Armenia

Opinion | Azerbaijan needs an alternative to nationalist militarism

by Bahruz Samadov

•5 min read

As Azerbaijan becomes increasingly aggressive towards Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, civil society must step up and propose a progressive alternative to Baku’s rule — one that challenges the nationalist militarism at its core. Azerbaijan’s ruling regime has been described in various ways, often intensely contradictory. Its turn to authoritarianism in the 2010s has been accompanied by fierce nationalism and increased hatred towards Armenians, which some might argue was a populist move to gain le

2022 Azerbaijani Attack on Armenia

Opinion | The war never ended; the peace process never existed

by Bahruz Samadov

•5 min read

Azerbaijani politics has taken a dark turn towards irredentism with its cult of brute force and victory. There can be no lasting peace with Armenians until we dismantle the vengeful founding myths of our national identity and reject violent nationalism. During the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, many in Azerbaijan argued that the war and loss of human life were necessary to prevent further losses in the future. According to that argument, the 1988–1994 war didn’t bring peace, and skirmishes and occ

Baku residents celebrate end of Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, 10 November, 2020. Photo: Toghrul Rahimli/Wikipedia commons.

2020 Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

Opinion | The ignored, the unwanted, and the unforgiven

by Bahruz Samadov

•4 min read

Victory Day was a showcase for the new dominant state narrative in Azerbaijan and its widespread popular adoption. The recent burst of violence between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as other incidents, have revealed this narrative’s fragility. During a celebration on Victory Day, the new annual holiday meant to commemorate Azerbaijan’s victory in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War last year, a crowd in downtown Baku was filmed cheering as they burned Armenian flags. The gathering of such a lar

Azerbaijan

Opinion | Azerbaijan’s new reality

by Bahruz Samadov

•6 min read

Ilham Aliyev’s government has never enjoyed such mass support as it does now. With the Victory Parade was its crowning moment, it is now obvious that, at present, any opposition to the authorities is unthinkable. But even in the new Azerbaijan, there are faint glimmers of hope. Ilham Aliyev inherited power in Azerbaijan after the death of his father, Heydar, in 2003. The turbulence of this transition was overcome through the brutal suppression of mass opposition protests. Upon securing his rul

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