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"How can the current period be assumed as the "golden era" of Azerbaijan, if several millions of citizens have to live and wander in different countries in search of money, work and a better life," writes Ziad Garahanly commenting on the statements of deputy chairman of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic Ali Ahmedov who had noted that the current period is the "golden era" for the Azerbaijani people.

In an article published by the Azerbaijani portal "Minval.az", the author wonders how the public riots in Guba, Ismayilli and numerous protests of disgruntled citizens coincide with the statement of "golden" noted by Ali Ahmedov, why in the current "golden era" shocking price growth occurs in Azerbaijan, the life goes up rapidly and a significant part of the population has to solve problems of basic survival in the current difficult social conditions.

"If Azerbaijan is experiencing a "golden era", then is there any need to arrest, judge and condemn journalists, politicians, youth activists, religious and community leaders for dissent or actions? Why not show mercy towards the already wrongfully convicted? After all, it is the mercifulness that is a sign of strong leadership. From where did all these beggars, unemployed, homeless, alcoholics, drug addicts, prostitutes, criminals who experience their "golden age" appear in the country? Why such a sharp social polarization and a clear social contrast exists in the country?" the material states.

The article reminds that the golden era in Spain, England and other countries is considered to be the period of greatest prosperity and military victories. Azerbaijan has lost the war. "The examples of all countries show that their "golden age" comes at a time of victories and conquests of lands and not after losses and defeats," the article reads.

The author wonders whether the current period can be called a "golden era" in the life of Azerbaijan, when there is seen a significant degradation in science, culture, education and public morality. Is this the "golden era", when people, as well as the Karabakh veterans, losing hope from the existing bureaucratic tyranny, douse gasoline and set themselves on fire publicly?

"These questions perhaps are not important for Mr. Ali Ahmedov. For him and for many other privileged functionaries this really seems to be a "golden era", because they are spared the problems that all the society lives with. So he is kind of right, this is a "golden era" for the Azerbaijani privileged functionaries," the author writes, noting that the stress should be put not on the second but on the first word.

"Both the black gold and the gold of the periodic table has turned the heads of our representatives of the ruling elite so much that they have decided to extrapolate their own "golden destiny" of the Azerbaijani people. It’s just funny!" the author writes.
As noted in the article Ali Ahmedov hastened to bestow his discovery to the Azerbaijani people at the ruling party conference "Azerbaijan 2013-2018: Towards new goals."

"Though, in the light of Ali Akhmedov’s epochal statement, the title of the conference causes bewilderment: if Azerbaijan has already reached its "golden era", then what "new goals" it can have for the next five years? Perhaps they strive for a "diamond age"?" the author wonders.