Stanley A. Weiss writing in the "IHT" about how Azerbaijan is key to the Caucasus.
It's always nice to see Azerbaijan on the international agenda, but a shame that Weiss is so soft on Azerbaijan's poor democratic record: the dubious elections, hamstrung opposition, corruption, restricted media environment.
Nor any mention of the government's recent plans to take RFE/RL, Voice of America, and the BBC off the airwaves.
-- Luke Allnutt
To be sure, this country is no democracy; the 46-year-old Aliyev learned well from his authoritarian father, who ruled Azerbaijan both as a Soviet Republic and after independence. Indeed, not long before our delegation arrived, Aliyev claimed re-election with 89 percent of the vote.
It's always nice to see Azerbaijan on the international agenda, but a shame that Weiss is so soft on Azerbaijan's poor democratic record: the dubious elections, hamstrung opposition, corruption, restricted media environment.
Nor any mention of the government's recent plans to take RFE/RL, Voice of America, and the BBC off the airwaves.
-- Luke Allnutt