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The portraits of the nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev and the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, are removed from some parts in Baku, particularly from underground crossings and bridges. Their quotes that were engraved on architectural structures have also disappeared for unknown reasons, RFE/RL reports.

According to the article, for instance, there used to be an inscription at the entrance to the bridge on Babek Avenue that the bridge had been constructed upon the President Ilham Aliyev’s order in a certain year. Now the inscription is erased and its place is painted. “Heydar Aliyev’s park is near Ukraine Square. The monument to the late president still stands there but the placard has disappeared. By the way, the placards depicting Heydar Aliyev’s life and work, which emblazoned Ukraine Square, have disappeared too. Most recently the guard was watching so that the birds would not soil the placards,” the article reads.

Approximately a month ago, Heydar Aliyev’s portraits also disappeared from Work Avenue and the surroundings of the metro station Gara Garayev, the article reads.

“The President Ilham Aliyev’s quotes have also been erased from architectural constructions. Only a few months ago, President Ilham Aliyev’s quotes could be seen almost on every crossing. In his time, RFE/RL journalist counted 12 quotes of Ilham Aliyev on the territory of Heydar Aliyev Sport and Concert Complex, National Theater of Drama, Interior Ministry and Heydar Aliyev Palace. The majority of the quotes disappeared on May 14, 2015. Although – not without a trace. We do not claim that all of the quotes have been erased, we write only what we see. For example, the quote at the entrance to the underground crossing opposite the Academic Theater of Drama is not there anymore. The quote is erased and its trace is visible to the naked eye,” RFE/RL writes.

According to the report, the situation is the same in the crossings and bridges around Ayna Sultanova’s monument, Ganjlik (Youth) metro station, in the settlement Khutor: the quotes are erased and the traces can be seen. Roughly speaking, the track sweeping works have not been carried out neatly. Some are painted, the others plastered.

“What is the aim of erasing the quotes written in golden letters? Throughout the day, we tried to get in touch with Baku and city districts executives. Yet we did not get an official response. Only Khatain district executives told us – without hiding the fact that the quotes had disappeared – that they were not aware of the reason,” the author writes.

According to the article, political scientist Arastun Orujlu said that it is not strange. “They want to show themselves as democrats ahead of the European Games. They understand that it is not good and the foreigners will shoot it and show abroad,” he said.

Columnist Zamin Haji jokes calling that process the victory of democracy, the article reads. “But I have no wish to joke indeed. There are hundreds of political prisoners in the country, the crackdowns go on and the light cannot be seen. In this situation, the government externally advertises itself with the European Games and the like. But there is also the internal advertisement – Heydar Aliyev’s posters and slogans. They see that the external and internal advertisements do not match. They present themselves as Europeans and as democrats abroad. Still, inside the country, we have idolatry, cult of personality, and this is a sign of authoritarianism – photos and quotes of one person. These quotes do not even make sense, ‘Bridge is a part of the road,’ ‘A country with strong economy is capable to do everything,’ ‘Masalli is a part of Azerbaijan,’ etc. The foreigners look at those slogans and laugh.”

Zamin Haji said that 3 years ago, when Azerbaijan hosted Eurovision Song Contest, the foreign journalists quite often used those portraits and quotes in their reportages and made unambiguous hints. “That is why they take them away. After the European Games everything may be put in its place again,” he said.

Azerbaijani news portal Haqqin.az reports that after the annual Flower Holiday, which is held in the Azerbaijani capital and other cities and districts in memory of the late president of the country, Heydar Aliyev, millions of flowers that decorated Baku parks on those days were traditionally given to Baku residents. “Crowds of Baku residents came to the park in front of Heydar Aliyev Palace and set on taking the flowers. Along with that, some ingenious residents of Baku tried to sell the flowers they picked in the park to the passers-by,” the portal reports.