For several years now, an acute political conflict between the authorities and the opposition has been ongoing in Azerbaijan. Opposition forces are trying to use every opportunity to combat the violation of human rights in the country. Even the final of the Eurovision Song Contest, held at the end of May 2012 in Baku, has acquired a political coloring.
Azerbaijani opposition charges authorities with violation of freedoms and human rights, as well as illegal persecution of dissidents. One of the demands of the opposition is the release of political prisoners and the holding of early parliamentary elections. Azerbaijan’s most painful problem is the presence of “prisoners of conscience” in prisons, whom the opposition considers political prisoners. It is believed that in Azerbaijan there are more than 60 prisoners who have been persecuted for political reasons.
One of the last major protests was held near the building of the Public Television Channel of Azerbaijan, which took part in the organization of the Eurovision music contest. As a result of law enforcement intervention, several dozen protesters were arrested and taken outside of Baku.
The idea that a music contest in Baku could become a platform for political demands was born in the coalition of human rights activists of Azerbaijan back in 2011. A bright slogan was chosen for the action: "Sing for democracy." The campaign was attended by youth, students, activists of opposition parties. The action was conceived as a large-scale event, including flash mobs, round tables for journalists, and press conferences. The main goal of the protests is to open the beautiful facade of public life, as its official authorities in Baku, and show the real problems with ensuring freedom of speech in the country.
Amnesty International advocated for the protest movement. John Dalhuisen, the deputy head of this organization in Europe, called on the organizers of the international competition to conduct a dialogue with official Baku in a more severe tone. Amnesty International's annual report noted numerous human rights violations in Azerbaijan. The country's authorities harshly condemned the politicization of Eurovision and accused human rights activists of bias and lies.
