NEWSFLASH #23 (20 November – 4 December 2014)
European Forum of Democracy and Solidarity
Turkey
►Turkey falls behind in global corruption index
On 3 December Transparency International released its annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). It pointed to a rise in reports of corruption in Turkey, which suffered the year’s biggest fall in rank. The group said that Turkey, rocked by graft allegations on top government officials last year, has since seen “a crackdown on free speech” with journalists persecuted and arrested. “With a series of investigations into bribery and corruption charges against people considered close to the government, the general perception of corruption has increased substantially,” it said. Turkey ranked 64 out of 175 with a score of 45.
►Criticism on newly build Presidential palace
On 3 December President Erdoğan said he doesn’t care about the criticism against the new palace. “They have said this and that. Let them say it. We don’t care at all. We are in an effort to become a big state. We have Dolmabahçe Palace and Topkapı Palace, which we are still proud of. Do we have something that we can leave for the future generations? Look at this [palace]. When people ask where Turkey is governed, this palace will answer that question,” Erdoğan said. The palace has cost at least $615 million and was built illegally on protected land. Turkey’s Housing Development Administration has refused to divulge the cost of President Erdoğan’s new palace on the grounds that the move “could hurt the economy.”
►Turkey approves law restricting rights and freedoms
On 3 December the Turkish Parliament approved a government-sponsored bill that will significantly restrict rights and freedoms as well as further strengthen the government’s control over the judiciary. President Erdoğan will presumably approve the bill. It will give the police and prosecutors sweeping powers regarding searches, seizures, detentions and arrests, while significantly restricting the right of defence for suspects. The new law also trims the powers of the higher court, the Supreme Court of Appeals, by removing the court’s say in deciding on which judges will be hired by the court for investigations. This forces the court to accept whomever the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors nominate, a key judicial body that was overtaken by a pro-government roster in October’s elections.
►Constitutional Court will decide on election threshold soon
On 1 December the head of the Constitutional Court (AYM) has said a verdict the top court is expected to deliver within a couple of weeks regarding a 10 percent election threshold needs to be applied in the upcoming elections. According to some the 10 percent threshold violates an individual’s right because it is too high. But this would deal a heavy blow to the ruling party, which won dozens of “extra seats” in Parliament thanks to the extremely high threshold. As per Article 67 of the Constitution, no changes to the election law that are introduced less than a year before an election will be put into effect in that election. But AYM head Haşim Kılıç has reportedly maintained that the top court’s verdict will include an order that it take effect immediately, as the issue is about the violation of a right. Parliamentary elections are due to be held in June 2015. On 2 December President Erdoğan said that it is not up to the court to shape politics. “Sovereignty does not rest on the Constitutional Court,” he said.
►Turkey and Russia seek new ways to deepen economic ties
On 1 December the Turkish and Russian Presidents met to seek ways to further increase economic and energy cooperation, as well as to multiply trade volume despite disagreements in a number of international issues, including Syria, Ukraine and Cyprus. At the same time NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has called on Turkey to join the economic sanctions campaign against Russia over the Ukrainian crisis. Sanctions are not decided by NATO, but by the European Union and the U.S., Stoltenberg stressed, “because I believe there has to be consequences when a country is responsible for these kinds of aggressive actions that we have seen in Ukraine [committed] by Russia.”
►Former UN High Commissioner urges President Erdoğan to respect democracy
On 26 November former United Nations High Commissioner Navi Pillay has urged President Erdoğan and the Turkish government not to follow in the ways of oppressive governments. “It’s very important that President Erdoğan respect dissent and allow the free flow of information and respect freedom of speech because that is what democracy means,” she said. President Erdoğan was elected into office in the 2014 elections after holding the office of prime minister since 2002. The international community as well as opposition parties criticized the elections for alleged bias and misuse of public resources.
►Turkish court issues media ban on inquiry into corruption
On 25 November an Ankara court issued a ban for Turkey’s media organizations from reporting about a parliamentary inquiry into corruption allegations concerning four former ministers of Cabinet. The court decision prompted fury on the part of several media organizations, which vowed not to abide by the gag order. Citing laws guaranteeing press freedom, daily Evrensel said in an open letter that it “we will not submit to this law but will continue to publish news about this issue.” The decision by the prosecutor’s office is not the first time that Turkish media has been banned from reporting on a certain issue.
►Turkish President Erdoğan says gender equality ‘against nature’
On 24 November President Erdoğan voiced his strong objection to the equality of women and men, instead recommending what he called “equivalency.” “Sometimes, here they say ‘men and women equality.’ But ‘equality among women’ and ‘equality among men’ is more correct. However, what is particularly essential is women’s equality before justice,” Erdoğan said at the Women and Justice Summit hosted by the Women and Democracy Association (KADEM). “You cannot bring women and men into equal positions; that is against nature because their nature is different.” His statements have precipitated a new debate in Parliament, as well as opprobrium on the part of women’s rights activists. On 26 November Erdoğan insisted he had advocated women’s rights throughout his political career, accusing the media of “distorting” his controversial comments on equality between men and women.
► Erdoğan likely to chair Cabinet meeting
On 23 November President Erdoğan announced his intention to chair a Cabinet meeting before the end of 2014, underlining once again that this is a constitutional right granted to the head of the Turkish state. In the run-up to the presidential election in August, which he won in the first round, Erdoğan repeatedly stated that the current Constitution grants “executive power” to a president who comes to office via the popular vote. “Not using that authority would not be appropriate. God willing, we will use that authority too,” Erdoğan said.
►Turkey’s opposition insistent on transparency of Kurdish peace process
On 21 November Turkey’s opposition parties have increased the volume in their demand for more transparency in the Kurdish peace process amid growing dissatisfaction with the amount of information that has been shared by the government on the matter. Selahattin Demirtaş, co-leader of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) has long maintained that a “third eye” in talks would help share the process with the public. President Erdoğan said that time has proven that the involvement of any third party would further complicate Turkey’s Kurdish peace process instead of facilitating it, citing the failure of a series of meetings known as the “Oslo talks” as one result of such involvement. The peace talks have stalled since street violence in early October that claimed dozens of lives in country-wide protests against the government’s perceived inaction over the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’s (ISIL) assault on the Kurdish-populated town of Kobane in northern Syria, near the border with Turkey.
► President Erdoğan forms team to monitor Cabinet
On 20 November Turkish President Erdoğan announced that he is set to establish a team to monitor the work of the Cabinet, despite putatively being above the political realm as the head of state. The assignment diagram of the presidential team has already been prepared, but has yet to be publicized.
EASTERN EUROPE / SOUTH CAUCASUS
►Transparency International study shows corruption widespread in post-Soviet states
On 3 December a new Transparency International (TI) study showed corruption remains rampant across much of former Soviet Union. In the 2014 Corruption Perceptions Index all former Soviet republics, excluding Georgia and the Baltic states, stood at 50 or below on a scale in which 0 means a country is perceived to be highly corrupt and 100 as perceived to be very clean. The study also ranked 175 countries in order, with higher rankings meaning more perceived corruption. Georgia ranked 50th with a score of 52, down from last year’s 55 ranking with a score of 49. TI’s former Soviet countries coordinator Svetlana Savitskaya said Georgia improved its ‘transparency and efficiency’ in government administration. She praised Tbilisi for prosecuting government and business officials for corruption-related crimes. Armenia and Azerbaijan rank 94th and 126th respectively. Savitskaya said Azerbaijan’s main problem is in its ‘clampdown’ on civil society and independent media, and that Baku has a lot of work to do regarding ‘elite’ and ‘political’ corruption. Russia is 136th, dropping 9 places since 2013. Ukraine ranks 142nd and Belarus 119th.
Armenia
►Parliament majority rejects voting reform
On 2 December ruling Republican Party (HHK) blocked opposition’s voting reform that would reduce its chances of retaining parliament control in next election. The draft bill of Armenian National Congress (HAK), Zharangutyun (Heritage) and Prosperous Armenia (BHK) was backed by 54 MPs (including 2 other opposition parties) vs. 59 mainly HHK MPs voting against. The proposed changes called for next parliamentary election to be under proportional representation system only; HAK, BHK and Zharangutyun say it would increase chances of their freedom and fairness. In the 2012 election 90 seats were contested on party-list basis and 41 distributed in single-mandate constituencies; HHK retained a majority after very strong showing in the latter; opposition attribute it to vote buying and other irregularities. The blocked bill also set electoral commissions to release lists of those who voted, long sought by opposition, who say it would prevent multiple voting. The reform was one of 12 opposition demands made in June; government’s refusal to meet most led the trio to hold anti-government rallies this fall. President Sarkisian said last month he and his cabinet will ‘once again address’ them. Government then offered to negotiate, but the trio refused. It introduced the bill, saying it will test authorities’ stated commitment to dialogue.
►Opposition movement decries assault on activists
On 27 November an opposition activist was assaulted and injured in Yerevan shortly after arson attacks on cars of 6 members of vocal anti-government movement Pre-parliament. An unknown person knocked activist, Gevorg Safarian, unconscious. Pre-parliament called it a politically motivated assassination attempt ordered by authorities. On that day and the day before cars of 7 other anti-government activists (6 of them linked with Pre-parliament) were set on fire by petrol bombs. None exploded as they were noticed in time and the fire was put out, but the cars were seriously damaged. All had stickers with Pre-parliament’s logo. Owner of one of the cars, Varuzhan Avetisian, said ‘the organizer is the ruling regime which is intertwined with criminal elements.’ Dozens Pre-parliament members had similar allegations – dismissed by police – as they rallied at police headquarters to protest the attacks. Police spokesman Ashot Aharonian said the national police chief is personally monitoring preliminary inquiry into the incidents. Pre-parliament, led by prominent public figures, has campaigned for regime change for the past few years. It has not attracted large crowds so far and is not represented in parliament.
►Major opposition party to back Eurasian Union membership
On 26 November a senior MP of Gagik Tsarukian’s Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) said it will vote for the parliamentary ratification of Armenia’s accession treaty with Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). Mikael Melkumian made this clear as he chaired a meeting of a parliament committee on economic affairs that discussed the treaty signed by President Sarkisian last month. He and most other members of the committee decided to recommend its ratification by the full parliament. Melkumian confirmed that the BHK faction, second largest in parliament, will vote for the ratification next week. Until now, BHK avoided formulating a clear position on Armenia’s accession to the bloc of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, but few observers doubted its positive attitude to joining EEU. Tsarukian has always supported close Russian-Armenian ties. Also supporting EEU membership are 2 other opposition parties represented in the parliament: Armenian National Congress and Armenian Revolutionary Federation. Only one parliamentary force, opposition Zharangutyun (Heritage), is expected to vote against the treaty. At the same time Armenia’s government reaffirmed its stated commitment to strengthening ties with EU even after its upcoming accession to EEU.
►Cracks continue to appear in opposition alliance
On 21 November opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian acknowledged differences among his Zharangutyun (Heritage) and 2 other major parties challenging President Sarkisian, and set conditions for continued joint activity. He said Zharangutyun, Prosperous Armenia (BHK) and Armenian National Congress (HAK) parties lack a common agenda despite joint anti-government rallies in past months. He said they should clarify objectives to make any progress in their ‘regime change’ campaign, and that the key point of that agreement should be that their aim is ‘a free, independent and constitutional Armenia,’ to be attained by ‘immediate, complete and systemic regime change through pre-term parliamentary and presidential elections.’ This seems mainly addressed to BHK, the largest and most influential of the 3. Unlike the others, BHK has not demanded Sarkisian’s resignation; its leaders indicate they would settle for government concessions on conduct of the next parliamentary election. It emerged earlier that the trio will again rally supporters in Yerevan on December 10, but it is unlikely to be followed by sustained street protests. On 25 November BHK said it expects continued cooperation with Zharangutyun despite their apparent differences.
Azerbaijan
►Critical young blogger detained
On 1 December blogger and author of Sancaq satirical page Mehman Huseynov was detained. Huysenov said that at the police he was informed all his documents (international passport and national ID card) were inactivated and ‘they also told me my passport was forged and that I was using it illegally.’ On November 10 Huseynov was prevented from leaving Azerbaijan: while traveling to an OSCE conference he was informed his passport was no longer valid. He sent an inquiry to the Ministry of Interior, and on November 29 received an official letter from the Ministry saying there is nothing wrong with his passport. Huysenov was heading to renew his ID when police apprehended him and accused him of forgery. On his Facebook page he wrote, ‘I am now being taken to a police station. Will there ever be a time in this country when I spend at least one day without police?’ Mehman Huseynov is considered the most influential blogger in Azerbaijan. He is also brother of Emin Huseynov, Institute for Reporters Freedom and Safety director, who is currently in hiding under threat of arrest. In 2012 a criminal case was opened against him on charges of hooliganism and resisting police.
►Armenian activist appeals to jailed colleague in Azerbaijan
On 27 November an Armenian activist voiced grave concern over arrest in Baku of prominent Azerbaijani human rights activist Leyla Yunus, 58. Head of a Yerevan NGO’s research center Laura Baghdasarian wrote an open letter to her Azerbaijani colleague with whom she had joint projects for nearly a decade, condemning her prosecution. She didn’t speak until now lest her support worsen Leyla’s and her husband Arif’s situation. The couple was arrested in summer, on charges of high treason and espionage for Armenia (which they strongly deny) stemming largely from Leyla’s work with Armenian NGOs in peace initiatives. This week Leyla was diagnosed with advanced liver disease and high blood sugar and said she may not live to see the New Year. ‘There is no point in checking my anger anymore,’ Baghdasarian wrote, calling it Baku’s ‘demonstrative punishment’ of highly critical human rights activist. International organizations decry the jailing of the Yunus’ and dozens other critics, but Baghdasarian said international community is not doing enough to hold Baku accountable. She is particularly critical of European bodies, saying they turn a blind eye to human rights abuses in Azerbaijan. Yunus’ arrest came amid a surge in deadly fighting along Armenian-Azerbaijan Contact Line around Nagorno-Karabakh. According to Baghdasarian, crackdown on Azerbaijani civil society members working with Armenian counterparts to promote peace could end long-standing efforts to facilitate people-to-people contacts in the conflict zone.
►Human rights lawyer jailed
On 26 November human rights lawyer activist Elcin Namazov was sentenced to 15 days in jail. His brother Akram said the activist had been found guilty of disobeying police. He said he fears his brother, whose office was searched on November 25 by police who confiscated documents, could face further charges. Meanwhile, representatives of opposition Popular Front Party said a party activist, Asif Yusifli, went missing on 25 November. Colleagues fear the police might have detained him. The Interior Ministry declined to comment on Yusifli’s situation. Western states and rights groups have repeatedly accused President Ilham Aliyev’s government of stifling dissent and restricting basic freedoms in Azerbaijan.
►Azerbaijan’s military spending hits 4bln mark amid risk of renewed war with Armenia
On 26 November it emerged that despite the decline in projected oil prices, Azerbaijani government intends to increase its military budget to $4.bln in 2015. The 27% growth will exceed Armenia’s total spending budget of $3.2bln, said Azerbaijan’s Finance Minister Samir Sharifov. The spike is justified with the potential threat and the recent escalation of clashes on the front line with Armenia. Tensions escalated with Azerbaijan downing an Armenian military helicopter, killing 3 of its crewmembers earlier in November. In August, over 20 people were killed from both sides during shooting along the border. Both sides lay the blame of ceasefire violations on each other.
►Leyla Yunus may not survive in prison until the end of the year
On 25 November in an emotional appeal to friends and supporters of her parents, Dinara Yunus, daughter of Leyla and Arif Yunus, spoke of quickly deteriorating health condition of her mother, saying Leyla Yunus, 58, fierce critic of Azerbaijani authorities might not survive the end of this year. High blood pressure, advanced liver disease, and high blood sugar levels are just some of the indicators of her medical state. ‘It is absolutely clear to me that this is the manner in which Azerbaijan’s authoritarian regime decided to physically destroy my mother,’ Dinara Yunus wrote, ‘most likely it is going to happen during Christmas and New Year Holidays, when everyone will be on vacation […] It would be very convenient for the authorities to bury my mum during this time.’ Leyla Yunus is accused of high treason, spying for Armenia, illegal business activities, document forgery and fraud. International human rights organizations condemn the arrest and demand her immediate release.
►EU human rights commissioner: ‘all my partners in Azerbaijan are in jail’
On 24 November Council of Europe (CoE) Human Rights Commissioner Nils Muižnieks gave his impression after visiting Azerbaijan in October, where he met with jailed activists, painting a bleak picture of the country that just finished its rotating chairmanship of CoE. He called the visit ‘one of the most difficult missions of my two-and-a-half year tenure,’ saying ‘Azerbaijan will go down in history as the country that carried out unprecedented crackdown on human rights defenders during its [CoE] chairmanship.’ He added that all his partners there are in jail, and it was ‘heart-wrenching to visit Leyla Yunus in pre-trial detention.’ He called Yunus ‘Azerbaijan’s most prominent human rights activist and one of three finalists for this year’s prestigious Sakharov award,’ adding that she ‘cried throughout’ their meeting. Also speaking of other jailed activists, Muižnieks noted ‘Council of Europe’s primary friends and partners […] have almost all been targeted,’ saying it also makes practical cooperation with Azerbaijan ‘extremely difficult’ and that ‘the reprisals must stop. Now.’
►Azerbaijani delegation rips up posters of names of political prisoners on Civil Society Forum
On 20 November, at this year’s General Assembly of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum held in Batumi, Azerbaijani delegation reportedly ripped up several posters with the names of political prisoners in Azerbaijan. Sponsored by EU, the event is described as ‘the highest decision-making body of the Forum.’ The posters were prepared by Czech NGO Nesenhuti and brought to Batumi by another Czech non-for-profit People in Need. With operational offices in several countries People in Need focuses on issues like human rights, education and humanitarian aid and development. The Azerbaijani delegation described the posters as unfair, saying many other countries that are members of the Forum face similar issues and pointing a finger at just one is discriminatory. The delegation tore down some of the posters and accused the Czech organization of being part of an Armenian lobby. The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum’s Steering Committee issued a statement shortly after the incident condemning the behavior of some of the Azerbaijan delegation members.
Georgia
►President vetoes controversial surveillance bill passed by parliament
On 29 November President Margvelashvili vetoed controversial government bill that allows Interior Ministry to retain direct access to telecom networks. The bill had been opposed by Republican Party (in Georgian Dream (GD) ruling coalition), opposition United National Movement (UNM), Free Democrats party (which quit the coalition recently) and some MPs of main ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia party. President said he vetoed the bill because it fails to provide the ‘right balance’ between security and human rights. Instead, he offered a scheme-echoing proposal of a group of civil society organizations who have campaigned for over a year to rein in security agencies’ access to telecom networks. This proposal would deprive Interior Ministry of capability to have this direct access, informally dubbed the ‘key’. President said the ‘key’ should be at the court, which also issues a warrant for law enforcement for lawful monitoring of communications. But on 30 November parliament overrode the presidential veto with 82 votes (76 were needed). On 1 December Parliament chair and Republican Party leader David Usupashvili said it ‘does not mean the issue is resolved,’ and called to reform Interior Ministry.
►Russia, Abkhazia sign controversial treaty on ‘alliance and strategic partnership’
On 24 November Russian President Putin and Abkhaz leader Raul Khajimba signed ‘alliance and strategic partnership’ treaty. Putin pledged to double assistance to Abkhazia, which already relies heavily on Moscow politically, economically and militarily. On 13 October the Russia-proposed draft ‘alliance and integration’ treaty was first published, and criticized in Sokhumi; 2 weeks later Abkhaz side put forth its revised version. While the final text reflects most of Abkhaz proposals, concerns about possible absorption by Russia remain in part of Abkhaz society. Abkhaz Public Chamber Council said it still contains provisions that ‘may have undesirable consequences for [Abkhaz] sovereignty.’ EU foreign affairs chief, Federica Mogherini, said Russia signing the treaty with Georgia’s breakaway region undermines ongoing efforts to stabilise the region’s security situation. Georgian authorities also slammed it; President Margvelashvili called it ‘a step towards annexation’ of Abkhazia, which ‘further aggravates situation in South Caucasus,’ leads the ‘process of normalization’ of ties between Georgia and Russia to a ‘deadlock’ and poses threat to the Abkhaz people as well.
►Civil society groups slam PM for ‘aggressive tone’
On 21 November a civil society organizations’ group criticized PM Irakli Garibashvili for ‘aggressive tone’ and ‘slanderous’ and ‘inappropriate’ remarks on NGOs that campaign to rein in security agencies’ direct access to telecom operators’ networks. Commenting on proposals on surveillance regulation, PM Garibashvili on November 20 slammed those pushing to deprive Interior Ministry of its direct access to those networks, saying ‘their main goal is to paralyze the Interior Ministry; they are fighting against state institutions.’ Addressing him, the campaign This Affects You–We Are Still Eavesdropped said: ‘by aggressive tone and unjustified allegations you demonstrate intolerance towards dissent, which is in conflict with the idea of building a country with high democratic standards.’ PM also said opposition United National Movement (UNM) is behind the model pushed by civil society organizations and that UNM members ‘are using their NGOs’ for lobbying the proposal. The campaign group called it ‘slanderous.’ UNM MPs offered the group to initiate its proposal as a bill in parliament, but the group declined an attempt to avoid any speculation of political affiliations.