Tourist info

[sannerz]

Oh, okay. You're comparing East Germany during Soviet rule, to Azerbaijan in the 21st century. So "well said".

 

[MyHeartIsYours]

Both countries were/are dictatorships. Amnesty International...

Posting on Facebook can get people into trouble, as we have seen even voting in Eurovision can get into trouble!

 

[sannerz]

Yugoslavia was a dictatorship. Tito received 91 international decorations.
Not all dictatorships are as severe as the connotation of the word might say.

 

[KissMeYouFool]

lol, people claiming that Azerbaijan's president Aliyev is a dictator have no freaking clue who/what "dictator" is. Aliyev is an authoritarian sob, no question, but he's not a dictator.

at any rate, the problem of poor governance and lack of individual freedoms in Azerbaijan is something for us azeris to solve. Last thing we need is corrupt, double-faced European politicians teaching us how to fix corrupt Azerbaijani politicians. They're all in cahoots anyway.

 

[Galandar]

Posting on Facebook can get people into trouble, as we have seen even voting in Eurovision can get into trouble!

It was not a usual posting but those people did two different things: 1) A couple of young activists made a video where the President was in the shape of a donkey (the way he spoke and the way he acted was definitely a hint to the President Ilham Aliyev); 2) Another young activist made a special group in Facebook and after having a bigger number of fans started to arrange the timing for mass demonstrations for a revolution. He was saying that we should follow the North Africa and the Middle East.

Although in the first case, the guys were captured because of the different reason, well, this is at least what the government says. Both guys are free now and they work for a youth opposition block. In the second case the guy left to France and the government still finds the activist guilty and they intend to arrest him so his name is given to Interpol.

Once more I don't and no one can call Azerbaijan a developed democracy. There is still a long way to reach if we reach it once.

But STOP going on with political discussions following a provocateur who started it here!!! In the end it is a non-political thread.

 

[EuroLove]

I would say that in general Azerbaijan has done great achievements. Do not forget that this country has its 20% of territory under Armenian occupation (with Russian military base in Armenia). As of 2006, with 800,000 refugees and IDPs, Azerbaijan had the highest per capita IDP population in the world! As for the number of refugees per capita Azerbaijan is in the first place in the world.

Indeed, Azerbaijan did not become poor refugee country with terrorists but fast developing country. If Azerbaijan would have territory between Switzerland and Germany or France they would follow strictly Human Rights and democratic rules. However, they have border with Iran, Russia, Armenia, Turkey. Iran try to send islamic influence, Russia fights against Western influence (remember Georgia and Russian war with it) Armenia as a fore-post of Russia keeps Azerbaijani territory under occupation.

Yet, with 20% of occupied territory for the number of refugees per capita Azerbaijan is in the first place in the world. If we care about Human Rights then lets talk about the Rights of this refugees, otherwise, it is weak country that will never stand against its big neighbors. Human Rights or Democracy never work in the weak countries.

 

[Anonymous]

Posting on Facebook can get you into trouble in your 'democratic' country-UK
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...utcliffe-Jordan-Blackshaw-jailed-4-years.html

 

[Farahim]

If we care about Human Rights then lets talk about the Rights of this refugees, otherwise, it is weak country that will never stand against its big neighbors. Human Rights or Democracy never work in the weak countries.

 

[MyHeartIsYours]

It was not a usual posting but those people did two different things: 1) A couple of young activists made a video where the President was in the shape of a donkey (the way he spoke and the way he acted was definitely a hint to the President Ilham Aliyev); 2) Another young activist made a special group in Facebook and after having a bigger number of fans started to arrange the timing for mass demonstrations for a revolution. He was saying that we should follow the North Africa and the Middle East.

So what if they made video of him where he's a donkey?! It should be your human rights to be able to do that, and from what I know about him and the way he treats people, a donkey is being quite complimentary to him!
This is sorta confirming the point that I've tried to make before, Im on the side of the Azerbaijani people, only against the Azerbaijani government and the President, who were never elected by the people. And I believe that it is the duty of the free countries to stand-up against human rights abuses, and we can use Eurovision to do that. In the same way that we used the Olympics to do that in Beijing (by not attending the opening ceremony and publicly condemning their record). I dont ever encourage politics in Eurovision, human rights arent even politics, they're a God/Nature-given right that everybody should have.
For Eurovision the situation for gay rights is particularly important because the majority of Eurovision fans are gay and it is only principle that we dont turn a blind eye to abuses and certainly not allow the scenes which occurred in Moscow to happen again. I believe Azerbaijan has every right to host it - you won, it's only what you deserve. But there also comes with that excess baggage and people will have such views until the problems are sorted out.

 

[James]

So what if they made video of him where he's a donkey?! It should be your human rights to be able to do that, and from what I know about him and the way he treats people, a donkey is being quite complimentary to him!
This is sorta confirming the point that I've tried to make before, Im on the side of the Azerbaijani people, only against the Azerbaijani government and the President, who were never elected by the people. And I believe that it is the duty of the free countries to stand-up against human rights abuses, and we can use Eurovision to do that. In the same way that we used the Olympics to do that in Beijing (by not attending the opening ceremony and publicly condemning their record). I dont ever encourage politics in Eurovision, human rights arent even politics, they're a God/Nature-given right that everybody should have.
For Eurovision the situation for gay rights is particularly important because the majority of Eurovision fans are gay and it is only principle that we dont turn a blind eye to abuses and certainly not allow the scenes which occurred in Moscow to happen again. I believe Azerbaijan has every right to host it - you won, it's only what you deserve. But there also comes with that excess baggage and people will have such views until the problems are sorted out.

*Ironic mode on*

But you have read what everyone here says... AZ is not like that, the people can express their (real) opinions, nobody was ever arrested etc. so Wikipedia, AI and (official) Human Rights Officers of for example Germany are liars.
And the Russian police is currently only inviting the demonstrating people for some nice tea and cookies into the police stations, as it is so cold outside.

*Ironic mode off*

 

[AlekS]

Al Qaeda terrorists were arrested in Dusseldorf in the beginning of ESC week.
I can't tell that Germany was so safe.
If you doubt so much and you care about your own butt don't go to Azerbaijan. Simple as that. Otherwise it's nothing but shoving your dislike of certain countries up our throats.


ps. Political discussions are prohibited here. Turkey, Russia, Armenia, Iran etc... if you want to show your dislike to some countries regimes go to political section. We are talking about info for tourists, people who have already decided that they are going to Azerbaijan.
Less politics and more tourism, please.

 

[411]

Hey,

So Baku is not a tourist hub and I had the chance to visit Baku and Sheki last year. I promise, there are only a few people from Europe in AZ. Also travel guides are rare.... I took a lot of photos and I wrote a travelogue / travelguide incl. a map with all sights. I hope, it is helpful, to prepare your journey to the finals of ESC.

Photos of Baku and Sheki travel guide incl. English subtitels (click)

From German into English translated travelogue Baku and Sheki for ESC (click)

I hope you enjoyed it...

bye 411

 

[KissMeYouFool]

*Ironic mode on*

But you have read what everyone here says... AZ is not like that, the people can express their (real) opinions, nobody was ever arrested etc. so Wikipedia, AI and (official) Human Rights Officers of for example Germany are liars.
And the Russian police is currently only inviting the demonstrating people for some nice tea and cookies into the police stations, as it is so cold outside.

*Ironic mode off*

It is very hard to take seriously someone who thinks Wikipedia is a reliable source

 

[Galandar]

There are some good news regarding the flights:

- Czech Airlines launches flights from Baku to Prague (starting in January 2012) and to Brussels (starting in March 2012) and seasonal flights from Ganca to Prague.

- Qatar Airways launches daily flights from Baku to Doha and to Tbilisi (starting in February 2012)

There are also negotiations on launching new flights from Baku to Belgrade (AZAL) and to Warsaw (LOT Polish Airlines).

 

[Narmina]

Wooow! To Belgrade

 

[Quent91]

To Brussels ? Interesting

 

[Galandar]

Swedish SVT made a program about Azerbaijan

http://svtplay.se/v/2642673/kobra/d...364142,1,f,-1/pl,v,,2632213/sb,p102859,1,f,-1

 

[Narmina]

 

[Yamarus]

To Brussels ? Interesting

I suppose it's a one-stop via Prague. I can't see CSA operating BRU-GYD (Baku) direct.

 

[Galandar]

Another good news for Turkish fans. Low-cost airline Pegasus to open a new flight from Istanbul to Baku.