“Isn’t Azerbaijan a democratic republic? Constitutionally, it is, of course. But the constitution is one thing and the political culture and practice are something else.”
— Christel Fricke, director of the Center for the Study of Mind in Nature at the University of Oslo, Norway, writing at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
It’s a new year in Baku, Azerbaijan, which I last wrote about here, after visiting, on behalf of the international Organization of News Ombudsmen, here.
Even as bustling Baku booms, it seems the more things change, the more things…don’t? As Ms. Fricke observes, the struggle continues.
More Baku scenes:
— C.B. Hanif
Addendum: Aaron, still on the case in Azerbaijan.
http://aaronmckean.wordpress.com/2011/01/03/obamas-christmas-gift-to-azerbaijan-an-ambassador/
Just in, more on that: “Baku Hopes Bryza Appointment Can Reinvigorate Relations.”
http://www.eurasianet.org/node/62654