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- A coup in the wrong direction: why Azerbaijan may imprison the closest ally of the Aliyevs
A coup in the wrong direction: why Azerbaijan may imprison the closest ally of the Aliyevs
A high-profile case against the former head of the presidential administration, political heavyweight and long-time politician Ramiz Mehdiyev continues to unfold in Azerbaijan. He was accused of plotting a coup and treason and was placed under house arrest. His next of kin also started having problems. Experts attribute what is happening to the struggle of the elites and the changing role of Azerbaijan in the international arena. Izvestia investigated the situation.
The Cardinal is under arrest
A high-profile case against the gray cardinal of local politics, former head of the presidential administration Ramiz Mehdiyev, continues to unfold in Azerbaijan. In mid-October, he was accused of plotting a coup, treason and legalizing illegal property. The court then chose an 87-year-old man's measure of restraint in the form of house arrest for a period of four months.
The details of the case have not been officially disclosed, but there are plenty of details in the local state and state-affiliated media. For example, a letter allegedly written by Ramiz Mehdiyev was published in a number of publications. It follows from it that the conspirators wanted to remove the current head of state, Ilham Aliyev, and also intended to establish a certain state council, which would include 50 experienced politicians, economists and lawyers.
The letter states that the State Council will have full power, and will also be able to perform the functions of the Constitutional Court and the Security Council. In addition, the role of Parliament, which will appoint members of the Government, will be strengthened. "Such changes will make it possible to neutralize the beginnings and foundations of authoritarianism and autocracy, as well as strengthen public control over the activities of the state," the published message says.
A number of media outlets write that Mehdiyev allegedly identified 50 people in advance who would have to join the state Council. The names and surnames are not indicated, but it is emphasized that other prominent ex-officials were in the inner circle of the main conspirator. Among them are former Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, former head of one of the departments of the presidential administration Ali Hasanov, former Minister of Culture Abulfaz Garayev.
Ramiz Mehdiyev
Azerbaijani sources also discuss the foreign policy aspect of this case in some detail. Pro-government publications write that Mehdiyev was closely linked to Russia and wanted to take advantage of the crisis in relations between Moscow and Baku. Allegedly, against this background, the conspirator hoped to receive "support from the north."
From Heydar to Ilham
Ramiz Mehdiyev is a veteran and heavyweight of Transcaucasian politics. His career began in the 1970s, when he worked at the Department of Scientific Communism of the Azerbaijan State University, later he was elected first secretary of one of the Baku districts, then became secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Republic. In the 1980s and 1990s, he was elected deputy of the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan of two convocations.
In independent Azerbaijan, he was a close associate of Heydar Aliyev. Both were considered to come from the so-called Nakhichevan clan. In 1995, Mehdiyev became the head of the presidential administration and in this position played the role of the gray cardinal and the second person in the state, worked a lot on ideology, recruitment and formation of the state elite.
Under the new president, Ilham Aliyev, he retained his position until 2019, when he resigned. At that time, it was believed that there were no disagreements with the head of state, and the reason was called the advanced age of the official. After leaving the presidential administration, Mehdiyev became the head of the National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), and also received the Heydar Aliyev Order, which is considered the highest award for civil servants.
National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan
In recent years, Mehdiyev has been involved in several unpleasant stories. So, in August 2020, the media wrote about the lavish wedding of his granddaughter Fidan, which took place against the background of quarantine imposed due to the coronavirus. The footage of the crowded celebration then went viral on social media. As a result, several people were placed under house arrest, and other guests had to pay fines. Mehdiyev himself defended himself that "such weddings have already taken place in the country."
In addition, scandals began to arise periodically at the Academy of Sciences. The media, in particular, wrote that the head of ANAS appoints his close associates to responsible posts, special attention was paid to the new head of the secretariat, Eldar Amirov. As a result, Mehdiyev resigned in 2022. He himself explained that he was leaving the post because of his age, but informal sources attributed the decision to the fact that the official was growing contradictions with the new elites of the country.
Ranks in disgrace
Now, after the initiation of criminal cases, Mehdiyev has become the object of criticism by numerous Azerbaijani politicians, officials and cultural figures. Thus, deputy of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) Malahat Ibrahimgizi stated that "even hundreds of such petty and power-hungry people as Ramiz Mehdiyev are powerless before the iron fist of the victorious Supreme Commander [Ilham Aliyev]."
Former Prime Minister Novruz Mammadov called the disgraced official complacent and arrogant. "His leadership style was very strange, he behaved as if there was no one in the world who could replace him. Everyone had to wait hours for his appointment," he complained. The media also actively quoted political analyst Jumshud Nuriyev, who stated that the hands of the former head of the Presidential Administration were "stained with the blood of 50 people."
The information campaign was followed by other decisions. After the award of house arrest, Mehdiyev was expelled from the country's Security Council, and in the near future they promise to expel him from the ruling New Azerbaijan party, as well as deprive him of the title of academician. All information about the state awards and titles of the disgraced official has disappeared on government websites.
The media writes about Mehdiyev's luxurious villa and the riotous life of his entourage. It is reported that the relatives were allegedly banned from leaving Azerbaijan after the criminal case was initiated. According to a number of testimonies, the accused's daughter-in-law was fired from her job at an oncological clinic, and his wife Galina was removed from her post as head of the department at Baku State University.
Apparently, the campaign has been prepared for a long time and systematically. This is evidenced by the synchronicity of publications in different media, and a lot of clearly coordinated decisions in advance. Against this background, a number of sources reported that Mehdiyev had an exacerbation of chronic diseases. It is noted that he was particularly upset by the fact that people to whom he had given a start in political life were involved in the attack.
What the experts say
Vadim Mukhanov, head of the Caucasus Sector of the IMEMO RAS, believes that the struggle of two elite clans in Azerbaijan is in the final phase.
— Mehdiyev is the personification of the group that formed around former President Heydar Aliyev. Under the new head of state, Ilham, a fresh generation has arrived, this is the so-called Pashayev clan, that is, people associated with the first lady, Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva (Pashayeva). Accordingly, in recent years there has been an underhand struggle between the old and new guards, and now we see the final chord of this confrontation," he explains.
Nikolai Silaev, a leading researcher at the MGIMO Center for Caucasus and Regional Security Issues, draws attention to the foreign policy aspect.
— Mehdiyev himself is secondary in this story. This is an elderly man who could hardly pose a real threat, no wonder he was only sent under house arrest. The main content in this case is the alleged involvement of Russia in the conspiracy. I think this is a signal to the entire political elite, as if they are being told that any contact with their northern neighbor, bypassing the top leadership and special services, threatens to ruin their careers and incarcerate them. This is another way to distance yourself from Moscow," he argues.
Artur Ataev, a political scientist and specialist in the Caucasus, talks about the interpersonal conflict between Mehdiyev and President Aliyev.
— I think that no coup d'etat is possible in modern Azerbaijan. The society is inspired by the victory in Karabakh, and the country's authority is also growing internationally. It seems to me that the problem is purely interpersonal. Mehdiyev talked a lot, gave lectures, and in these conversations, apparently, exaggerated his role in the formation of modern Azerbaijani statehood, that is, willingly or unwittingly cast a shadow on Heydar Aliyev. I think Ilham Aliyev could consider such behavior a personal offense," he explains.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
