This week saw deputies calling for early parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan, filmmakers unsatisfied with the Ministry of Culture’s censorship practices, and mass dismissals among Azerbaijani oil workers.
Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan appeals for early elections
On June 21, the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan, led by Deputy Tahir Rzayev, appealed to President Ilham Aliyev to hold early parliamentary elections. Members of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) and other deputies supported this initiative. The appeal, grounded in Article 95, Part 2 of the Constitution, saw overwhelming support, with 105 votes in favor and only one against.
This appeal followed a YAP Management Board meeting on June 20, where the necessity of early elections was discussed in light of Azerbaijan hosting the COP29 conference in November 2024. YAP Deputy Chairman Tahir Budagov highlighted the need for the parliament to be fully operational during such significant events, suggesting that early elections would better serve the country’s interests.
Azerbaijan last held parliamentary elections on February 9, 2020, following President Aliyev’s December 2019 decree to dissolve the previous parliament and schedule early elections.
Azerbaijani filmmakers protest against Ministry of Culture’s censorship practices
A group of Azerbaijani filmmakers has issued a joint statement condemning the Ministry of Culture for imposing bureaucratic and economic barriers that hinder their professional activities. The filmmakers highlight the mandatory licensing requirement for film screenings, which they claim is enforced in a manner contrary to the law. According to the 2006 Cabinet of Ministers decision, only an age classification is necessary, not censorship. However, the Ministry’s Expert Council has established strict control mechanisms, effectively applying censorship under the guise of issuing broadcast licenses.
The filmmakers argue that the Expert Council’s activities contradict the 2006 decision by the Cabinet of Ministers, which they believe should govern film broadcasting and screening rules. The statement criticizes the Ministry’s application of a “filming permit” rule, which adds unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles, unlike the simplified international practice. They assert that these actions by the Ministry stifle creative freedom and push Azerbaijani cinema backward. The filmmakers warn that the current censorship and bureaucratic control could lead to the isolation of Azerbaijani cinema from the global film community and the disappearance of creative expression in the country.
In response to the Ministry’s actions, the filmmakers demand elimination of censorship and artificial barriers, adherence to the Cabinet of Ministers’ decision for film distribution, and a discussion to ensure the proper functioning of cinema laws. The Azerbaijan Film Directors Guild has also called on officials to avoid steps that limit creative activities and promote censorship.
Mass dismissals are met with outrage among Azerbaijani gas sector workers
Employees working on public projects in the Agsu service area of the Agsu Regional Gas Operation Department, part of the “Azerigas” Production Union under SOCAR, are facing mass dismissals. The affected workers, primarily those hired in 2016 as labor assistants, have been terminated without explanation. Rovshan Suleymanov, one of the dismissed workers, described the sudden end of their contracts, which had been renewed annually but were not extended recently.
The workers, many of whom depend on their jobs for family livelihoods, are facing significant financial strain due to their unexpected dismissals. Approximately 20 workers have already been let go, with official confirmation of 14 terminations. Reports suggest that up to 300-400 employees might be dismissed. Uzeyir Mammadov, another dismissed worker, reported losing his job without warning after nine years of service.
The dismissals have raised questions about the legality of the terminations. Mirvari Kahramanli, chairman of the Organization for the Protection of Oil Workers’ Rights, pointed out that according to Azerbaijani labor law, fixed-term contracts that continue for more than five years should be considered permanent. Despite this, workers who have been on monthly contract extensions for over eight years were still dismissed under temporary contracts. Kahramanli criticized the lack of compliance with labor laws and the absence of official statements addressing these mass dismissals.
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