CRIME SITUATION UNDER CONTROL, SAYS MINISTER OF INTERIOR
The Minister said the public order has been held both before and after the elections, and that there is no trend towards worsening of the situation. “The crime situation is under full control across the country,” he assured.
The Minister noted the fight against crime is as successful as before. “I would say, the law enforcement bodies also effectively contribute to the President Ilham Aliyev’s policy towards ensuring protection of constitutional rights of the Azerbaijani citizens’, he said.
Responding to the question whether there were complaints or appeals submitted to the Ministry after the elections, Ramil Usubov advised it received 45 appeals, of which 50% have already been scrutinized. According to him, those complaints pointed to alleged law enforcers’ intervention in voting, though, majority of them have not been confirmed. “The interesting thing is that not only pro-governmental members of the election commissions but also those representing opposition forces mentioned the given reports were baseless,” he said.
Asked about the probability of the so-called “orange revolution” in Azerbaijan, the Minister replied there are no “prerequisite, social basis and objective conditions for any type of revolution.” “Practical, concrete measures are being undertaken to solve the problems the country’s President points to. Revolution already occurred in Azerbaijan. The revolution occurred in 1993 when our national leader, the great son of the Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev came back to power at the peoples’ urgent request”, he said.
The Minister Usubov’s reply to the question about the opposition’s intention to resort to long-term protest actions was as follows: No restrictions have been so far and will be put on the freedom of thought, speech. Incumbents’ commitment to the democratic values is obvious. Unfortunately, however, today we also have to talk about the forces aiming to violate the public order and plunge the country again into chaos and anarchy.
Describing his attitude to the some opposition leaders’ suggestions to involve women and children in their actions, the Minister noted he was aware of such a plan being prepared. “They intend to use women and children. This is a display of a quality, which has nothing to do with an Azeri’s nature. It’s a great pity. OK, if you are going to rally or a long0term rally, put up resistance to the police, then do it like men,“ he said.
Minister Ramil Usubov urged the youth and students not to join illegal actions. “The Head of State is doing much and planning to do more in the future much to make your far better,” he said.
Responding to the question about probability of recurrence of the October 2003 unrest, the Minister said: “all the reasonable citizens of Azerbaijan – I am very happy, it is the vast majority of the Azerbaijani people – consider it inadmissible to allow chaos, anarchy and confrontation. The people do not want it. And it is our responsibility to provide what the people want. All the executive structures subordinated to the country’s President are and will be implementing very effective work in this direction. It is the policy pursued by the President that ensures democracy in the society and encourages this process. The people of Azerbaijan welcomes this policy, supports and follows it.”
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