Agarahim Poladov, acting head of Dalga Youth Movement. Photo: Samir Gasimov / AMC

Do young people in Azerbaijan have the necessary educational and cultural opportunities available to them? Young people gathered at the IMS-funded Azerbaijan Media centre to discuss their conditions for development

By Ali S. Novruzov, Azerbaijan Media Centre

As one in a series of debates organised by the Media Centre together with Yeni Nesil Journalists’ Union with financial support of the US Embassy, the event gathered young people from across the whole political spectrum, youth movements as well as ordinary interested young people earlier this month to find answers to difficult questions frequently asked by the country’s youth.

- If conditions for educational and cultural development for young people were in place, we wouldn’t be here today to debate this issue, said Agarahim Poladov, acting head of Dalga, an independent youth movement.

"A lost generation"

The conditions for development under debate was the general access to education, internet, research opportunities, and art and leisure activities, as well as the right to express oneself freely.

Elmari Mamishov, the head of the Young Lawyers’ Association, had the opposing view that those conditions were already in place.

- This question being debated does not pass a philosophical test, argued Mr. Mamishov:

 - Every young person has his or her own definition of the word ‘condition’. Every young person decides and creates what conditions he or she needs. Why should someone else, especially the government, step in and create these conditions?

 - Some people’s approaches are just negative, added a listener with reference to Dalga’s representative. - Why do they only see negative issues and do not want to accept the positive ones?

Another participant added:

- Our generation is already a lost one and all those problems of youth would need to be solved by the next generation.

- There are so few really ‘active’ youths that there are not enough of them to push forward the passive mass, added another voice from the audience.

Expelled for writing about corruption

One person in the hall of participants at the debate was beyond persuasion that all necessary conditions for youth to develop were in place. His experience was one of having his freedom of expression hampered, with consequences for his education ensuing.

Elmin Badalov was a former student of the State Oil Academy – former, because according to himself he was unfairly expelled from it and was now suing the Academy.

- Everything started with an article I published about widespread corruption in my university, says Elmin Badalov, who is also a journalist with two news outlets.

- I was called into the Dean’s office and subjected to various pressures. They wanted me to rebuke my article, and they even pressured those who were interviewed and made them take back their testimonies.

- The rest followed quickly, adds Elmin Badalov. He failed three exams, though he claims he was examined unfairly and was expelled for his academic malperformance.

Fortunately, there is a good precedent for Badalov. Some time ago, another Azeri student and member of Dalga, Parviz Azimov, was expelled from Lankaran State University – officially for a scuffle, but as Parviz claims, for writing an article about corruption in his university. After a long legal and PR battle, a court ruling ordered his university to take back Parviz into the ranks of its students. This makes Elmin optimistic.

- I have been provided with a lawyer from the Media Law Institute and the Institute of Reporters' Freedom and Safety also supports me, says Elmin pointing to two Baku-based NGOs that usually help troubled media and journalists.

–The Dalga Youth Movement also supports me and I am supervised by Parviz Azimov, for he has the required experience.

Optimism prevails

Overly optimistic are also some other participants that were critical of the current conditions of the country’s youth.

- The answer to whether the conditions for young people to develop are present depends on young people themselves, every one of them, says Mursal Aliyev, founder of a student website Telebe.az. 

-  If you are young and you have decided to do something, no one can stand in your way. Open a website. Open a blog. At least, open a Facebook profile.