Anarchism in Azerbaijan
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Anarchism is a small minority political movement in Azerbaijan, although it has unique roots.
History
Anarchists first appeared in 1904 around the suburbs of Baku.[1] The peak of activism was around 1906–1907, when the number of anarchist organizations in Azerbaijan rose to 40. However, there were few members according to local authorities.[2]
Organizations
The most influential organizations were established in 1905 by
Demographic background
According to police reports, the national composition of anarchist organizations were exclusively Russian (except Azad). However, many organizations included a large number of Armenians who were former
Anarkhiya
"Anarkhiya" was founded by former
Azad
Azad was founded in 1906 and was considered the largest of the then existing small groups like Riot and Terror. They had 15 members at their peak,[6] including former gang members who became local anarchists. The group was led by 2 brothers, Aga Karim and Aga Sanguli. Azad feuded with local millionaires, which were headed by Teimur Ashurbekov (grandfather of Sara Ashurbeyli). At the end of 1907, Karim Aga and Ashurbekov both were arrested, Azad dissolved and remaining members joined other groups.
Ideological differences
Anarchists of Baku mostly consisted of two separate ideological subdivisions:
- Anarcho-communists: "Anarchy", "Black Crow", "Azad", "Red Hundred", "Red Flag", "Bunt", "Land and Freedom", "The Internationale"
- Anarcho-individualists: "Terror", "Anarchist Bombers", "Individualist Anarchists" and "Baku society of terrorists and anarchist individualists" (founded by P.F.Kalinin in 1906, 1 May)
Aftermath
Anarchist organizations lost many followers because of their brutal methods of fighting against the system, including murders and bombings. In March 1908, 50 members of the Red hundred were arrested and sentenced to exile in Siberia.[7] In 1909, almost all members of Black Crow, Terror, and Red Flag were arrested. The remaining small groups disbanded themselves.[8] After the mass repressions of 1908–1909, the anarchist movement in Azerbaijan has failed to recover.
Current situation
In February 2013, the Baku Individual Anarchists Association (BIAA) was founded by three Azeri. Group considers itself successor to the Baku society of terrorists and anarchist individualists, which was founded by P. F. Kalinin, and considers itself the oldest functioning non-governmental organization in the history of Azerbaijan.[9]
On May 9, 2016, the eve of the birthday of
On September 27, 2020, Giyas Ibrahimov was again detained by the
On May 4, 2021, Bayram Mammadov was found dead in Istanbul, he had allegedly entered the sea at Moda beach two days before and was reported not to have left again. Despite an official investigation not being initiated, state news outlets reported the death as a suicide,[14] but close friends of Mammadov have disputed the reports.[15] In July 2021, it was uncovered that Bayram Mammadov, his father, and Giyas Ibrahimov's mother had all been targeted for surveillance by the Azerbaijani government, using the Pegasus spyware developed by the Israeli NSO Group.[16]
References
- ^ "Anarchist activism ocherk in Caucasus", in magazine "Anarchist",1907. № 1, p.36
- ^ ГАРФ. ф.102. ДПОО, 1906, он.235, д.20, ч. 43, л.13
- ^ "Baku". 1906. 24 sept.: 15 oct.": "Kaspii". 1906. 1 sept.
- ^ ГИА АР, ф.46, оп.1, д.221, лл.81-120; д.370, л.5об.
- ^ ГАППОД АР, ф.276, оп. 2, д.45, лл.16-17
- ^ ГАРФ, ф.102, ДПОО, 1907, д.12, ч.З, л. 10
- ^ S.M. Efendiev "The history of the revolutionary movement of the Turkic proletariat", Baku, 1923, p. 40
- ^ Magazine. "Azerbaijan" (in Turkish. Lang.) 1955, № 12, Saturday issue
- ^ BIAA Manifesto (in Azeri)
- ^ Aslanli, Elnur (10 May 2016). "Граффити на памятнике Гейдару Алиеву - Qul bayramınız mübarək!" (in Russian). Meydan TV. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "В Азербайджане судят двух анархистов, разрисовавших памятник Алиеву-старшему" (in Russian). Anarchist Black Cross. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ Mahmudov, Kamran (21 March 2019). "Алиев освободил 52 "политзаключенных" в рамках Новрузской амнистии" (in Russian). OC Media. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ OC Media (29 September 2020). "Azerbaijan: anarchist detained for making anti-militarist statements". Freedom. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Azerbaycanlı Anarşist Bayram Mammadov İstanbul'da Ölü Bulundu". Meydan Gazetesi (in Turkish). 5 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ "Azerbaijani prisoner of conscience Bayram Mammadov found dead in Istanbul". JAMnews. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ Patrucic, Miranda; Bloss, Kelly (18 July 2021). "Life in Azerbaijan's Digital Autocracy: 'They Want to be in Control of Everything'". Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. Retrieved 20 July 2021.