EurasiaNet.org: European Games visitors to Azerbaijan to have what government orders for breakfast
Known for its penchant for curbing civil liberties, the government of Azerbaijan is now moving to limit gastronomic freedom as well. To popularize the country’s national cuisine, tourism officials have decided to make a traditional breakfast mandatory for all of the country’s hotels to serve. But first, they decided to "patent" an Azerbaijani breakfast, the American outlet EurasiaNet.org reads.
According to the article, the prospect of thousands of athletes and spectators descending on Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, for the European Games, prompted the decision.
“But what exactly goes into a trademarked "Azerbaijan Breakfast"? Despite its enthusiasm for the idea, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, as yet, has not gotten around to elaborating. Nor has the state patent office. It might be difficult to make the claim that an Azerbaijani breakfast is so unusual as to be patent-worthy, however. Generally, the meal can include sheep-cheese, honey, yogurt, a variety of fruit, scrambled eggs with tomato, bread, and tea, tea, tea,” the author writes.
As the article reads, Minister of Culture and Tourism, Abulfas Garayev, explained earlier this month that the decision was made since tourists allegedly prefer to leave the hotel for other meals. To get guests hooked, several hotels — as yet unnamed — will serve only the “Azerbaijan Breakfast” for breakfast when the European Games kick off. Later on, it will become compulsory in all hotels of Azerbaijan.
Moreover, the author of the article warns that hotel guests are likely to discover that they face not only limited breakfast options. The TV sets in hotel rooms already display local news designed to promote only the government's point of view. Many local reporters have left the country, censor themselves or are locked away in prison, like jailed investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova.
Besides, as the article has it, few are inclined to voice government-criticism loudly, either. Most recently, a leading rights defender and government sceptic Rasul Jafarov was sentenced to 6.5 years in jail on charges ranging from tax evasion to embezzlement.
As they have for scores of other activists, journalists and lawyers now doing time in Azerbaijan’s prisons, international human rights organizations have described the convictions as politically motivated. But, apparently, the government does not believe this will impede the flow of visitors for the European Games or customers for an "Azerbaijan Breakfast,” the author writes.
Related:
Human rights groups appeal to U.S. Secretary of State to boycott European games in Baku
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