2011 Azerbaijani protests

2011 Azerbaijani protests
Date11 March 2011 – 11 September 2011
Location
 Azerbaijan
Caused byCorruption, unemployment, low wages, political differences, political repression[1][2]
GoalsDemocratic reforms, release of political prisoners, resignation of President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Artur Rasizade[2][3]
MethodsCivil resistance, demonstrations, hunger strikes, online activism
Casualties
Arrested469+[4][5][6][7]

The 2011 Azerbaijani protests were a series of demonstrations held to protest the government of President Ilham Aliyev. Common themes espoused by demonstrators, many of whom were affiliated with Müsavat and the Popular Front Party, the main opposition parties in Azerbaijan, included doubts as to the legitimacy of the 2008 presidential election, desire for the release of political prisoners, calls for democratic reforms, and demands that Aliyev and his government resign from power. Azerbaijani authorities responded with a security crackdown, dispersing protests and curtailing attempts to gather with force and numerous arrests.

The European Union, the United States Department of State, Amnesty International, and other organizations called on the government to release political prisoners and allow for free assembly. Meanwhile, Azerbaijani Prosecutor General Zakir Qaralov vowed to "suppress" protests, comparing them to incidents in "other countries" and saying that the government would not allow them to go forward.[8]

  1. ^ Barry, Ellen (12 March 2011). "Police in Azerbaijan Arrest Antigovernment Protesters". The New York Times. The New York Times. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  2. ^ a b Klomegah, Kester Kenn (12 April 2011). "Arab Spring knocks at Azerbaijan's door". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  3. ^ "Azerbaijan on Alert over ME Uprisings". The Journal of Turkish Weekly. 5 March 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2011.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "AZERBAIJAN: More than 200 anti-government protesters arrested". Los Angeles Times. 2 April 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  5. ^ "Police thwart Azerbaijan democracy rally". The Daily Star. 18 April 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  6. ^ "Azerbaijani young people picket in front of PFPA chairman Ali Karimli's home". Trend News Agency. 13 April 2011. Archived from the original on 24 September 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  7. ^ "Police in Azerbaijan detain 23 opposition protesters". Tehran Times. 23 June 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  8. ^ "Azerbaijan urged to stop targeting peaceful protesters". Amnesty International. 15 April 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2011.