Why was Aydın Aliyev, who assisted the authorities by filing a complaint to initiate a criminal case against me, expelled from the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA)? Did he truly collaborate with the authorities, thereby opposing the political course of the PFPA?

I must admit that I have never been particularly interested in the minor players in the machinery of repression. I have always considered the names, signatures, and services that the regime uses in its repressive policies as secondary matters. Consequently, I was not inclined to discuss or write about Aydın Aliyev, who filed a special accusation against me. However, since there is an ongoing attempt to mislead public opinion, I feel compelled to explain why Aydın Aliyev was expelled from the PFPA.

Yes, Aydın Aliyev, as a member of the PFPA, faced significant pressure from the regime. They even confiscated the small trading booth that was his last means of livelihood. His financial situation worsened, and one day we learned that Aliyev had joined an organization called the Public Control Coalition (PCC), which unequivocally supports and promotes the regime. This occurred in 2018.

Let’s discuss Aydın Aliyev’s political choice that led to his expulsion from the PFPA. Read the Public Control Coalition’s Facebook post from October 4, 2018 (the full post is in the comments section). Be sure to read it:

“The ranks of the PCC are rapidly expanding: opposition members and lawyers have joined. The Chairman of the Control and Inspection Commission of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, Aydın Aliyev, who has been part of the national liberation movement since 1988, voluntarily joined the Public Control Coalition and was appointed Chairman of the Department for Work with Political Parties and NGOs of the PCC.

Today, other valuable members also voluntarily joined the PCC, including many young people, refugees, and women.

Today, Rasim Mammadov, Chairman of the PCC Executive Board, met with these new members, as well as with NGO leaders, citizens who had applied, and guests at the PCC Headquarters.

By the way, the series of events commemorating the 3rd anniversary of the PCC continues. On October 1, 2018, the Baku Heydar Aliyev-Ilham Aliyev Museum – a public space – was inaugurated, along with the newly renovated PCC Central Headquarters, and the annual conference was held.

On September 30, 2018, a grand public visit took place at the Alley of Honor and Martyrs as part of the 3rd anniversary celebrations of the PCC, which was founded by the World Azerbaijanis Cultural Center (DAMMIB) and the International Social Research Center (SIMIB), with 97 organizations joining its ranks.

On October 1, 2018, the official opening of the Heydar Aliyev-Ilham Aliyev Museum-Public Corner took place at the newly renovated PCC Central Headquarters, attended by DAMMIB President and People’s Writer Chingiz Abdullayev, along with other prominent NGO leaders, cultural figures, state officials, and media representatives.

Moreover, large anniversary events were held with the participation of chairpersons and representatives from the newly opened PCC branches in Baku, surrounding regions, and local branches across the cities, regions, and towns of our republic.

At the opening of the annual conference within the framework of the 3rd anniversary events, Rasim Mammadov, Chairman of the PCC Executive Board and 1st Vice President of DAMMIB, reviewed the three-year history of the PCC and outlined future plans.

The event also included the official opening of the Public Museum Corner dedicated to National Leader Heydar Aliyev and President Ilham Aliyev, the founders of the public control concept.

Additionally, the inauguration of the renovated PCC Central Headquarters in Baku took place, introducing new departments and structures focused on law, multiculturalism, psychology, refugees and IDPs, entrepreneurship, applications and complaints, TV, mass media, social networks, political parties and NGOs, public transport, women’s councils, youth organizations, as well as the new studio-pavilion for PCC TV, the “State and Law” newspaper, and various online portals.

It should be noted that on September 30, 2018, more than a thousand people—referred to as the “Army of Public Control”—who actively participated in the 3rd-anniversary events, paid tribute to the memory of prominent figures in Azerbaijan’s history. They began by visiting the sacred grave of National Leader Heydar Aliyev at the Alley of Honor, and also honored the souls of our heroes at the Alley of Martyrs.

On the eve of the PCC’s 3rd anniversary, a public museum and exhibits reflecting the historical activities of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and President Ilham Aliyev were permanently displayed on the 8th floor of the “Azerbaijan” publishing house.

By the way, the anniversary events celebrating the 3rd anniversary of the PCC’s establishment will continue until the end of the year.

What you are reading is an excerpt from a post by the PCC, where Aydın Aliyev holds a significant position—not just any position, but as the Chairman of the Department for Work with Political Parties and NGOs. All activities of this organization were aimed at defending the government. In various statements, they expressed their support for Heydar Aliyev, Ilham Aliyev, and Mehriban Aliyeva. By the way, don’t even think about deleting posts—they have all been copied.

Now, consider this: could a person who has joined an organization that unconditionally defends the Aliyev regime, and holds a leadership role in that organization, remain in the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA)? Would the PFPA tolerate such unprincipled behavior?

Of course, there were initial discussions with Aydın Aliyev. It was explained to him that he could not simultaneously be a member of both an organization that defends and promotes the government (PCC) and one that is in principled opposition to the government (PFPA). Aydın Aliyev refused to retract his misguided decision. Following warnings and discussions, on June 10, 2019, the PFPA Presidium expelled Aydın Aliyev from the party for opposing the political line of the PFPA and collaborating with the authorities.

Aydın Aliyev did not relent. He sued the party and me. Despite being one of the leaders of an organization that defends and promotes Heydar Aliyev and Ilham Aliyev, he still wanted to be a member of the PFPA. Undoubtedly, he received assistance in his legal battles against us.

However, despite this, we resisted for 3 years, using every legal means to prevent Aydın Aliyev from returning to the ranks of the PFPA. Unfortunately, in the end, under the strict conditions of an authoritarian regime, the authorities achieved their goal. Aydın Aliyev was reinstated in the PFPA by the force of the state’s coercive apparatus. You know the rest. First, the authorities annulled the decision to elect me as chairman of the PFPA at the congress, using his complaint as an excuse. Then, they initiated a trial at the Court of Appeal to suspend the activities of the PFPA based on his complaint. Finally, a criminal case was initiated against me on the basis of his baseless complaint.

P.S. The head of the PCC, Rasim Mammadov, was later arrested for racketeering, much like Ata Abdullayev. It seems Rasim Mammadov believed that by doing such “great” work for the authorities, they would forgive his racketeering. However, the officials he targeted for extortion were more powerful, and as a result, Aydın Aliyev’s superior, Rasim Mammadov, was arrested for racketeering.

P.P.S. In the first photo attached to this text, PCC Chairman Rasim Mammadov is seen presenting a PCC membership card to Aydın Aliyev. The second and third photos are from the PCC’s visit to Heydar Aliyev’s grave.