FEB. 24 2017 (The Conway Bulletin) — Azerbaijan, under Ilham Aliyev, has lead the way in creating a regional royal family, a dynasty that rules the country unimpeded. By appointing his wife, Mehriban Aliyeva, as his First Vice-President, Aliyev reinforces this impression.
He must, though, have been prepared for the cries of nepotism hurled at him after he made the announcement. Prepared and not particularly bothered, was probably his attitude.
Aliyev has always done things his own way, waving a proverbial two fingers at critics, including large parts of the European Parliament. He virtually inherited the presidency himself from his ailing father in 2003. Of course, there was an election to garnish his rise to the top but in essence it was a coronation job.
Since then Aliyev has crushed dissent, imprisoning most of the country’s opposition activists and independent journalists. Those who haven’t been imprisoned or fled into exile, keep their heads down or are pliant. And that’s why reaction to Aliyeva’s promotion to First Vice-President has been muted in Azerbaijan.
As for the international community, there have been the predictable accusations of foul play from human rights groups and others but, in general, this has been glossed over. Azerbaijan is now an important partner for Europe. It
wants to source its gas from the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea and has built a pipeline across the South Caucasus and Turkey to pump gas to its people. It needs a stable Azerbaijan. Aliyev appointing his wife as his deputy is not a big enough issue for EU countries to complain about.
What exactly Aliyeva’s roles are likely to be, remains to be seen. Perhaps, though, they are less important than the impression her promotion has created of the omni-powerful Aliyev clan, ably supported by the Pashayevs, Aliyeva’s family. The Pashayevs have business interests stretching across the spectrum, from banking to insurance, mining to luxury car dealerships.
The Aliyevs also have a string of business interests. Protecting these interests and the interests of his wife’s family, will have been a major concern of Aliyev before he handed his wife the of First Vice-President. These interests are now a little more secure and Azerbaijan’s reputation
as a partner to do business with is a little more tarnished.
By James Kilner, Editor, The Conway Bulletin.
ENDS
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(News report from Issue No. 318, published on Feb.24 2017)