Ilgar Mammadov
{{Short description|Azerbaijani politician}}
{{For|the Azerbaijani fencer|Ilgar Mammadov (fencer)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Ilgar Mammadov
| image = Ilgar Mammadov in 2022 (cropped).jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Mammadov in 2019.
| office = Co-chairman of REAL Party
| term_start = December 25, 2008
| term_end = September 11, 2024
| predecessor =
| successor =
| office2 =
| term_start2 =
| term_end2 =
| predecessor2 =
| successor2 =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1970|6|14|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, Soviet Union (now Azerbaijan)
| nationality = Azerbaijani
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = REAL Party (2017–present)
| otherparty = Azerbaijan National Independence Party (1998–2003)
| relatives =
| residence = Azerbaijan
| alma_mater = Lomonosov Moscow State University, Central European University
| occupation = Politician, blogger
| signature = Ilgar Mammadov signature.png
| website =
}}
Ilgar Mammadov ({{langx|az|İlqar Məmmədov}}; born June 14, 1970) is an opposition politician in Azerbaijan, and one of the leaders of the Republican Alternative Party.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/22/world/asia/22iht-azeri.3991002.html|title=Many Azeris see Iranian hand behind wave of unrest|date=December 26, 2006|newspaper=The New York Times|accessdate=2009-11-18|first=Ilan|last=Greenberg|archive-date=2011-05-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522092502/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/22/world/asia/22iht-azeri.3991002.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7a3080c8-4e59-11e0-98eb-00144feab49a.html|title=Azerbaijan is a very typical Middle Eastern dictatorship|date=March 14, 2011|newspaper=Financial Times|access-date=April 25, 2011|archive-date=May 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517223020/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7a3080c8-4e59-11e0-98eb-00144feab49a.html|url-status=live}} Mammadov was considered a likely candidate for the Presidential elections in October 2013, but was arrested in February 2013, prior to the race, in a move that was widely seen as politically motivated.{{cite news|last1=Sultanova|first1=Shahla|title=Two Opposition Leaders Arrested in Azerbaijan Allies say they are being framed for spontaneous protest by exasperated residents of provincial town.|url=http://iwpr.net/report-news/two-opposition-leaders-arrested-azerbaijan|accessdate=14 September 2014|agency=IWPR|date=February 5, 2013|archive-date=14 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914225356/http://iwpr.net/report-news/two-opposition-leaders-arrested-azerbaijan|url-status=live}}
In March 2014, Mammadov was sentenced to 7 years in jail. He was released from prison on August 13, 2018.{{cite web |title=Azerbaijani Opposition Leader Mammadov Released From Prison |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/azerbaijani-opposition-leader-mammadov-released-prison/29430183.html |website=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty |accessdate=14 September 2018 |language=en |date=13 August 2018 |archive-date=15 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915001839/https://www.rferl.org/a/azerbaijani-opposition-leader-mammadov-released-prison/29430183.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Azerbaijani opposition leader Ilgar Mammadov freed |url=https://eurasianet.org/azerbaijani-opposition-leader-ilgar-mammadov-freed |access-date=2 August 2021 |work=eurasianet.org |language=en |archive-date=30 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130051728/https://eurasianet.org/azerbaijani-opposition-leader-ilgar-mammadov-freed |url-status=live }} On 23 April 2020, the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan has acquitted Ilgar Mammadov and 300,000 manat compensation will be paid.{{cite news |title=İlqar Məmmədov və Rəsul Cəfərova bəraət verilib |url=https://www.bbc.com/azeri/azerbaijan-52394609 |access-date=2 August 2021 |work=BBC News Azərbaycanca |language=az |archive-date=26 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200426021227/https://www.bbc.com/azeri/azerbaijan-52394609 |url-status=live }}
Life
He was born in 1970. After serving in the Soviet Army from 1988 to 1989, he studied history at Moscow State University and political science at Central European University in Budapest. In 1994-2000 he was a researcher at Baku State University. He was one of the founders of the National Committee for European Integration and the first chairman of the Committee. He is director of the Council of Europe's School of Political Studies in Azerbaijan. He is also a member of the advisory boards of the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation and Revenue Watch Institute. Since 2006, Ilgar Mammadov has been a member of the Board of the Open Society Institute of Azerbaijan.{{cite news |title=İlqar Məmmədov kimdir? |url=http://islamazeri.com/kimkimdir/ilqar-memmedov-kimdir--36506.html |access-date=2 August 2021 |work=islamazeri.com |archive-date=24 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224005240/http://www.islamazeri.com/kimkimdir/ilqar-memmedov-kimdir--36506.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Opposition Leaders Arrested After Riot in Azerbaijani Town |url=https://www.cacianalyst.org/publications/field-reports/item/12640-opposition-leaders-arrested-after-riot-in-azerbaijani-town.html |website=www.cacianalyst.org |access-date=2 August 2021 |language=en |archive-date=30 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930030806/http://cacianalyst.org/publications/field-reports/item/12640-opposition-leaders-arrested-after-riot-in-azerbaijani-town.html |url-status=live }}
= Political career =
Mammadov's previous political affiliation was with the National Independence Party where he served as Deputy Chairman between 1998 and 2003. He left the party in 2003 due to growing policy disagreements.{{cite news |title=İlqar Məmmədovun həbsindən 5 il ötür |url=https://www.meydan.tv/az/article/ilqar-memmedovun-hebsinden-5-il-otur/ |access-date=2 August 2021 |work=Meydan.TV |language=az |archive-date=2 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802230735/https://www.meydan.tv/az/article/ilqar-memmedovun-hebsinden-5-il-otur/ |url-status=live }}
Mammadov was banned from TV and radio after his 19 March 2009 republicanist speech{{Citation|last=Ильгар Мамедов|title=İlqar Məmmədov 2009 Ana Yasa referendumu haqqında, ANS TV|date=2009-03-20|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTnWHDG7oeg|access-date=2019-07-01|archive-date=2020-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131162938/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTnWHDG7oeg|url-status=live}} on ANS TV live.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}} He had protested against the conduct of the 18 March 2009 referendum that removed term limits from the President's office, and thus permitted, in principle, a President for life.
Arrest and imprisonment
Mammadov was arrested on February 4, 2013, after traveling to Ismayilli, a town in Northern Azerbaijan in which there had been civil disturbance, following alleged repression by the local governor.{{cite news|last1=Roth|first1=Andrew|title=2 Azeri Opposition Leaders Are Charged With Inciting Riots|work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/07/world/asia/2-azeri-opposition-leaders-are-charged-with-inciting-riots.html|accessdate=14 September 2014|agency=New York Times|date=February 6, 2013|archive-date=26 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026094707/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/07/world/asia/2-azeri-opposition-leaders-are-charged-with-inciting-riots.html|url-status=live}} He subsequently was sentenced to seven years imprisonment, in March 2014.
A number of countries and organizations have protested against this sentencing. The US State Department noted "significant irregularities in witness testimony and court proceedings. Our observations led to the conclusion that the verdicts were not based on the evidence and were politically motivated."{{cite web|last1=US Embassy Azerbaijan|title=U.S. Embassy Azerbaijan Statement on the Outcome of the Ismayilli Unrest Trial|url=https://photos.state.gov/libraries/azerbaijan/749085/highlights/pr_Ismayilli_Trial_Outcome.pdf|website=State Department Website|accessdate=14 September 2014|date=March 17, 2014|archive-date=24 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224163355/http://photos.state.gov/libraries/azerbaijan/749085/highlights/pr_Ismayilli_Trial_Outcome.pdf|url-status=dead}}
The Foreign Office of the United Kingdom also expressed concern, saying that they were "troubled by a number of aspects of the conduct of the trial which reinforce the impression that the verdicts were politically motivated."{{cite web|last1=British Embassy Baku|title=Foreign Office expresses concern at conduct of trial & sentencing of Azerbaijani opposition leaders Ilgar Mammadov and Tofiq Yagublu|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/world-location-news/azerbaijan-foreign-office-statement-on-opposition-leaders|website=UK Government Website|accessdate=14 September 2014|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112652/https://www.gov.uk/government/world-location-news/azerbaijan-foreign-office-statement-on-opposition-leaders|url-status=live}}|date=March 24, 2014} Similar statements were released by France,{{cite web|last1=France Diplomatie|title=Azerbaijan – Sentencing of Ilgar Mammadov (March 17, 2014)|url=http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/azerbaijan/events-7746/article/azerbaijan-sentencing-of-ilgar|website=French Government Website|accessdate=14 September 2014|archive-date=18 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718090059/http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/azerbaijan/events-7746/article/azerbaijan-sentencing-of-ilgar|url-status=live}} the European Union{{cite news|last1=Spokesperson of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and Commissioner Štefan Füle|title=On the sentencing of Ilgar Mammadov and Tofiq Yaqublu on charges of staging riots in Ismayili, Azerbaijan|url=http://eeas.europa.eu/statements/docs/2014/140320_01_en.pdf|accessdate=14 September 2014|date=March 20, 2014|archive-date=22 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140922133425/http://eeas.europa.eu/statements/docs/2014/140320_01_en.pdf|url-status=live}} and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.{{cite web|last1=Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) co-rapporteurs|title=Azerbaijan: concern at announcement of jail sentence on two opposition politician|url=http://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/News/News-View-EN.asp?newsid=4942&lang=2&cat=3|website=Council of Europe|accessdate=14 September 2014|page=21 March 2014|archive-date=11 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911045313/http://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/News/News-View-EN.asp?newsid=4942&lang=2&cat=3|url-status=live}} The Natural Resource Governance Institute, a think tanks, also condemned the sentence.{{cite web|last1=Natural Resource Governance Institute|title=Statement on Sentencing of Ilgar Mammadov in Azerbaijan|url=http://www.resourcegovernance.org/news/statement-sentencing-ilgar-mammadov-azerbaijan|accessdate=14 September 2014|archive-date=15 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115140039/http://www.resourcegovernance.org/news/statement-sentencing-ilgar-mammadov-azerbaijan|url-status=live}}
On May 22, 2014, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) found that the authorities in Azerbaijan had violated a number of basic human rights provisions in arresting and sentencing Mammadov. The court ordered Azerbaijan to pay compensation to Mammadov.{{cite news|last1=Human Rights Europe|title=Court: Arrest and detention of Azerbaijan opposition politician and blogger Ilgar Mammadov was unjustified|url=http://www.humanrightseurope.org/2014/05/court-arrest-and-detention-of-azerbaijan-opposition-politician-and-blogger-ilgar-mammadov-was-unjustified/|accessdate=14 September 2014|date=May 22, 2014|archive-date=15 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915003950/http://www.humanrightseurope.org/2014/05/court-arrest-and-detention-of-azerbaijan-opposition-politician-and-blogger-ilgar-mammadov-was-unjustified/|url-status=live}} On December 5, 2017, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, for the first time in its history,{{Cite web|last=European Court of Human Rights|date=May 29, 2019|title=Proceedings under Article 46 § 4 in the Case of Ilgar Mammadov v. Azerbaijan|url=http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng/?i=001-193543|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120043940/https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-193543|archive-date=January 20, 2021|access-date=January 10, 2021|website=HUDOC}} initiated infringement proceedings against the Republic of Azerbaijan for failing to comply with the ECHR judgment.{{Cite news|last1=Council of Europe|url=https://www.coe.int/da/web/portal/full-news/-/asset_publisher/9vvrs2hbh9i2/content/council-of-europe-s-committee-of-ministers-launches-infringement-proceedings-against-azerbaijan|title=Committee of Ministers launches infringement proceedings against Azerbaijan|date=December 5, 2017|access-date=December 20, 2017|language=en-GB|archive-date=December 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229112147/https://www.coe.int/da/web/portal/full-news/-/asset_publisher/9vvrs2hbh9i2/content/council-of-europe-s-committee-of-ministers-launches-infringement-proceedings-against-azerbaijan|url-status=live}} On April 1, 2019, the ECHR unanimously held that there had been a violation of Article 46 § 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights, as the Republic of Azerbaijan had failed to fulfil its obligation to comply with the judgment.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Commonscatinline}}
- [http://ilgarmammadov.livejournal.com Ilgar Mammadov's blog]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mammadov, Ilgar}}
Category:Politicians from Baku
Category:Prisoners and detainees of Azerbaijan
Category:Azerbaijani prisoners and detainees
Category:Moscow State University alumni
Category:Central European University alumni
Category:Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights
Category:Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights
Category:European Court of Human Rights cases involving Azerbaijan