One of the AEGEE locals that lies furthest to the east is AEGEE-Bakı, situated on a small peninsula in the Caspian Sea. You might think of them as a remote or different local, but nothing could be more wrong. If you spoke to them, you’d meet nothing but the most kind, open, and, above all, enthusiastic members, who organise the most amazing events. It just comes to show that, from the North to the Caspian Sea, Europe is everywhere. Let’s meet AEGEE-Bakı.

The AEGEEan: Could you tell us a little bit about AEGEE-Bakı?

AEGEE-Bakı: AEGEE-Bakı started its activities in 2004 and more than 1500 local students have been involved in different projects. It was registered by the Ministry of Justice on August 10th, 2007 . The main purpose of the organisation is to promote the European ideas by creating cooperation between Azerbaijani and European students. The number of members is about 100 and this number is increasing day by day.

Board members are Orkhan Babayev – the President, Anar Alizamanli – Treasurer and Fundraising Responsible, Elmin Allahverdiyv – Public Relations Responsible, Arzu Amirguliyeva – Secretary General and Human Resources Responsible, Khagani Gasimov – Projects and External Relations Responsible.

What are the most amazing things AEGEE-Bakı has ever organised? 

Every year, we, AEGEE-Baki, hold different kinds of festivals and events for both our members and international youth. One of the main and popular events is Novruz festival. Novruz – International Youth Festival- is the annual celebration of Novruz with the youth from all around the world. This project will give you a unique chance to experience different parts of NOVRUZ holiday, such as jumping over bonfires and running through the streets, banging on pots and pans with spoons and knocking on doors with your hats and bags to ask for little presents (sweets and candies) and tasting national cookeries, such as shekerbura, pakhlava, goghal and so on.

Do you often collaborate with AEGEE-Sumqayit, considering that you’re only 26 km apart? 

Yes, we collaborate almost with all AEGEE locals in Azerbaijan. The nearest one is Sumqayit and there is no distance when it comes to co-operation and future work for the better future society. We always share our thoughts and exchange our skills and practice with each other.

Azerbaijan is on the frontier of Europe and the Middle East. Does this shape the structure or culture of AEGEE- Bakı? 

AEGEE- Bakı is in the edge of Europe. Even though we are far from the closest areas of Europe, we have a lot in common with Europe. AEGEE took the borders away and brought the idea of unity and friendship, made an exchange of cultures, customs and traditions, knowledge and other aspects for all around Europe. We feel the AEGEE spirit even from the farthest part of the Europe.

Being on the edge of the geographical network of AEGEE, are there any challenges to organize trips or have other members of AEGEE visit Baku? 

We have been seen from the other parts of Europe too. Many AEGEEans every year visit our local and their main dream is to discover the Eastern Edge of Europe. We acknowledge them with the eastern European culture, traditions and this is the main exchange point of our cultures, thoughts, ideas and share these all with all around us.

We organise several events like Novruz-International Youth Festival, Summer University that are the main out of other projects. The main target is to invite the young AEGEEans to discover the eastern and mysterious part of Europe.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us? 

Currently, our working groups are implementing several upcoming local projects . In January we are going to have the local Agora. Because of that, we are busy with both a new upcoming Board elections and local projects.

Written by Willem Laurentzen, AEGEE-Nijmegen

Since the discussion about whether or not the internet is a human right is ongoing in AEGEE, I’d like to share with you my latest eastern observations on this issue. I’ve recently read a letter published by Emin Milli, an Azerbaijani blogger and youth activist, in The Independent (source: article). I expect that most of us imagine his statement should express the common Azerbaijani point of view. Surprisingly, it’s not that evident. Let’s have a look at it with Ulfat Abbassoy and Durdana Boyukkishiyeva from AEGEE-Baki.

When I read it for the first time, it seemed clear to me that the Internet is not for the common good in Azerbaijan. Emin Milli (alias “milli” in Azerbaijani means “national”), a former prisoner of conscience, expresses in this letter his discontent that the president Ilham Aliev ties the Azerbaijanis to use the internet freely: (originally) “As someone who was jailed for using the internet to criticize you and your policies, I have experienced an inconvenient truth – the internet is not free in Azerbaijan and it is definitely not free from fear.” Amongst his statements, we can easily find this one which says that the Internet is still under control: (originally) “The Internet governance can’t properly serve sustainable human, economic and social development without freedom of expression, the rule of law and efficient democratic governance.” According to him, the current use of the Internet is actually connected with a fear of being imprisoned. I was a little taken aback while reading this letter, so I decided to publish it on Facebook to go ahead with the discussion. And then the serious one started.

It was Ulfat Abbassoy from AEGEE-Baki who stated his opinion immediately: (originally) “Dear Adrian, this person who wrote this article is against the present government and all of us and we always write what we want, please if you want to know about something about our country first of all ask me and our friends from Azerbaijan.” Interesting, isn’t it? I asked him why he does not like a letter published by a human rights activist who was supposed to fight for freedom of the Internet. Ulfat responded that Emin Milli represents neither the youth nor the government’s side: (originally) “Nobody can understand him. We do not know what he is trying to do as writing this article. Me and all of my friends always use the Internet freely, I always read every news agency and comment there what I think and my friends too. We have a radio channel that they always have a lot of programs against and opposite to our goverment. I have a friend who is also an AEGEEan. He is a blogger and always writes acticles against something but noone dislodge him for writing this kind of article. First of all, I think these kind of articles are our internal matters and we don’t want any organization and any foreigner to intervene our internal matters. These are difficult and big problems as politics. (…) Don’t believe these kind of articles.”

With a feeling that something is going on, I asked another girl from Azerbaijan to express her opinion on this matter. Durdana Boyukkishiyeva from AEGEE-Baki told me that: (originally) “I use the Internet freely reading internet media every evening. Sometimes making my personal comments on it. I write my ideas about our government on my Facebook status or make comments on my friends’ status. I watch YouTube where oppositional videos are posted and sometimes give them comments and nobody tells me why I’m doing so (!). As for me I use the internet freely everyday. (…) Milli is quite famous among oppositional youngsters here. Some points he stated are fair enough but rather good reply is written below that article by Samira, please, read it as well. Samira’s point of view I support in this case….” Then, what does “Samira” state in her comment? She does not agree with Mili, saying that the Internet is free in Azerbaijan even more than in other European countries (she/he lives in Sweden right now). She evokes several examples to prove that Milli isn’t correct: (originally) “By the way, there was a documentary in Sweden about the Swedish company Telia which is operating in Azerbaijan. Your friends gave some interviews accusing Telia in helping Azerbaijans “regime” to “arrest free-thinkers.” After that it was the pressure on Swedish government to remove Telia from Azerbaijan. When I met journalists who did this report I told them that internet and globalisation are actually helping to democratisation and removing the Internet from Azerbaijan would be devastating for society. He answered “I do not care how it will affect Azerbaijan, I am doing my report.”

As a neutral observer, I’m still a little bit confused. Is the Internet free in Azerbaijan or not? If the truth is expressed by the Azerbaijani AEGEEans, why did The Independent, a respectable British magazine, publish such a letter? Unless they’re right, what’s going on? I invite you to read the article, as well as share your opinions afterwards!

PS: I’ve underlined one phrase from Samira’s comment just to affirm my personal view that the Internet is the kind of right that humans should have.

Written by Adrian Browarczyk, AEGEE-Poznań