Your trusted source

In an Azeri-dubbed parody version of the scene from "300," Leonidas and the messenger speak with the voices of two Azerbaijani presidential candidates. In the clip, which has gone viral, the voice of opposition candidate Camil Hasanli, dubbing over Leonidas, condemns another candidate for his misdeeds, the radio Liberty reports.

In the video Hasanli tells Hafiz Haciyev, a pro-government candidate accused by the opposition of running only to give Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev the appearance of free elections. "Look what conditions you have brought to our people." Hasanli's voice yells, "This government must go!" as Leonidas kicks his rival into the pit -- a slight variation of the scene from the original 2007 blockbuster, in which actor Gerard Butler screams, "This is Sparta!" The article says that the audio of the two presidential candidates used for the "300" video apparently comes from recent presidential debates.

Mehman Huseynov, the well-known pro-democracy blogger who created the video -- viewed over 17,000 times since October 1 -- was detained by the authorities on October 2 shortly after the clip was uploaded to YouTube. He was released after three hours.

"They told me to behave and slow down my preelection activities on the Internet," the Hasanli supporter told RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service shortly after his release. "I reminded them that I am a journalist. I also noted what President Aliyev claims very often – that the Internet is free in Azerbaijan. My activity is not against the law and I will continue to produce satirical and critical videos."

Human rights monitors have accused Azerbaijan's authorities of ramping up pressure on journalists and opposition activists in advance of next week's presidential election. In a debate last month, Haciyev threw a bottle of water at Hasanli after the latter accused Aliyev's administration of corruption.

Huseynov himself is facing up to five years in prison on hooliganism charges for allegedly assaulting a police officer during a 2012 protest he was covering. He needs to seek permission before leaving Azerbaijan and was prevented from travelling to Norway in June to receive a press-freedom prize.

The British human rights organization “Index on Censorship” notes that Youth movements have been particularly targeted since March 2013.

“At least eight journalists are currently imprisoned in retaliation for their reporting on sensitive issues. This is the backdrop to Azerbaijan’s election next week, an election that is being fought in one of the least free countries on earth,” the organization writes.
Thus it notes that journalist Parviz Hashimli, was arrested in September. Human rights activists that we met believe that Hashimli’s arrest is yet another attempt to intimidate the press in the run-up to the October election. The organization also touched upon Tolyshi Sado newspaper, Hilal Mamedov, who was sentenced to five years in prison.

Former Index on Censorship award winner Rashid Hajili, who is a lawyer and chair of the Media Rights Institute said that since 2003, the situation has gradually worsened. Hajili sees the situation as the result of a decade-long “shift toward authoritarianism”. “Not only have the authorities of the country ignored their international commitments – such as decriminalising defamation – but they have adopted legislation imposing new restrictions on fundamental freedoms,” Hajili said.

The organization notes that In May, Azerbaijan’s parliament adopted regressive legislation extending criminal defamation provisions to online content. Azerbaijanis now face potential fines of up to AZN 1,000 (approximately USD $1,280), or prison sentences of up to three years for items they post online, including on Facebook. The chilling effect is so severe that individuals refrain from even “liking a friend’s controversial status”, says a young Azeri. “We are aware that social media are monitored,” she adds.

“As the Aliyev regime tightens the screws, space for free expression is shrinking and prospects for free and fair elections grow slimmer,” the material notes.

Index on Censorship adds, while many in the civil society or international diplomacy have denounced criminal prosecutions for online publications, and intimidation of journalists, Azerbaijan routinely ignores criticism of its human rights record by international bodies.
The presidential elections in Azerbaijan are scheduled on 9 October 2013. The previous presidential elections were held on 15 October 2008. The incumbent president Ilham Aliyev is on this position for two terms already - since 2003. In March 2009 a referendum on making amendments to the Constitution was held in Azerbaijan, which repealed the restriction on one person remaining in office for more than two consecutive terms. The Venice Commission of the Council of Europe stated in this regard, "Giving one person the right to be repeatedly elected to the presidency is seen as a step backwards in the development of democracy."