Azerbaijan's Plundering Government
The Republic of Azerbaijan: Behind the Facade of StabilityThe
Republic of Azerbaijan is a country blessed with abundant natural resources, a strategically important geographical location, and a government that claims to represent Islamic values. Yet, when one looks beneath the surface of everyday life, a very different reality emerges—a reality that few dare to speak about openly.
The Azerbaijani government presents itself as Islamic, but in practice it neither has deep religious roots nor allows people to experience a genuine relationship with religion. Instead, religion has become a political instrument—a facade used to conceal a harsh and oppressive system that appropriates the wealth and rights of its own people.
A government that channels the people's wealth into its own pockets resembles a game.
Yes, the Azerbaijani government is much like the game Monopoly: attractive and polished on the outside, but beneath the surface it functions like a system of plunder, taking whatever belongs to the people for its own benefit.
From hotels, homes, and land to the most basic rights of daily life, almost nothing remains beyond the reach of those in power. Out of fear, pressure, and hopelessness, people are unable to resist this systematic exploitation.
Whatever money reaches ordinary citizens eventually finds its way back into the state's coffers, while the people remain poor and marginalized.
A Culture of Corruption and Bribery
Corruption is not confined to the highest levels of government; it has spread throughout society.
When people witness officials enriching themselves through bribery and backroom deals, many feel compelled to participate in the same practices simply to survive. Paying and accepting bribes in government offices, hospitals, and even routine administrative matters has become an ordinary part of daily life.
A Bitter Personal Experience: Money Comes Before Patients
I personally experienced this reality in 2019.
When I took a sick woman to a public hospital, proper medical treatment was not the priority. Doctors and hospital staff first demanded bribes from me, and later I was forced to pay additional bribes for medical tests and other services.
Even a public hospital, which should exist to save lives and provide care, had become another component of a corrupt and exploitative system.
A Quiet People Living Under Injustice
One of the most striking characteristics of Azerbaijani society is the outward calm of its people.
Despite enduring pressure and injustice, many citizens appear quiet, obedient, and remarkably patient. Yet this silence is rooted not in satisfaction, but in despair and the absence of hope for meaningful change.
They know that protesting is unlikely to achieve anything and that raising their voices may lead to repression.
Stability at the Cost of Freedom
This apparent calm is often mistaken for security and stability.
In reality, however, many people live in poverty, and whatever sense of security exists has come at the cost of fundamental freedoms and basic rights.
It is a stability maintained more through control and repression than through genuine prosperity or justice.
Conclusion
Azerbaijan is a country where state power dominates nearly every aspect of life, while ordinary citizens are left as silent spectators of a bitter reality.
Widespread corruption, the appropriation of public wealth, and a deeply rooted culture of bribery have created a cycle of injustice that has affected not only the government but society as a whole.
Author: Gouya Roshan
Author's Note:
The views expressed in this article are based on my personal experiences, direct observations, and conversations with many citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including doctors, government employees, workers, and ordinary members of society. This article reflects the author's personal perspective and understanding of the realities I have encountered during the years I lived and spent time in this country
The Republic of Azerbaijan: Behind the Facade of StabilityThe
Republic of Azerbaijan is a country blessed with abundant natural resources, a strategically important geographical location, and a government that claims to represent Islamic values. Yet, when one looks beneath the surface of everyday life, a very different reality emerges—a reality that few dare to speak about openly.
The Azerbaijani government presents itself as Islamic, but in practice it neither has deep religious roots nor allows people to experience a genuine relationship with religion. Instead, religion has become a political instrument—a facade used to conceal a harsh and oppressive system that appropriates the wealth and rights of its own people.
A government that channels the people's wealth into its own pockets resembles a game.
Yes, the Azerbaijani government is much like the game Monopoly: attractive and polished on the outside, but beneath the surface it functions like a system of plunder, taking whatever belongs to the people for its own benefit.
From hotels, homes, and land to the most basic rights of daily life, almost nothing remains beyond the reach of those in power. Out of fear, pressure, and hopelessness, people are unable to resist this systematic exploitation.
Whatever money reaches ordinary citizens eventually finds its way back into the state's coffers, while the people remain poor and marginalized.
A Culture of Corruption and Bribery
Corruption is not confined to the highest levels of government; it has spread throughout society.
When people witness officials enriching themselves through bribery and backroom deals, many feel compelled to participate in the same practices simply to survive. Paying and accepting bribes in government offices, hospitals, and even routine administrative matters has become an ordinary part of daily life.
A Bitter Personal Experience: Money Comes Before Patients
I personally experienced this reality in 2019.
When I took a sick woman to a public hospital, proper medical treatment was not the priority. Doctors and hospital staff first demanded bribes from me, and later I was forced to pay additional bribes for medical tests and other services.
Even a public hospital, which should exist to save lives and provide care, had become another component of a corrupt and exploitative system.
A Quiet People Living Under Injustice
One of the most striking characteristics of Azerbaijani society is the outward calm of its people.
Despite enduring pressure and injustice, many citizens appear quiet, obedient, and remarkably patient. Yet this silence is rooted not in satisfaction, but in despair and the absence of hope for meaningful change.
They know that protesting is unlikely to achieve anything and that raising their voices may lead to repression.
Stability at the Cost of Freedom
This apparent calm is often mistaken for security and stability.
In reality, however, many people live in poverty, and whatever sense of security exists has come at the cost of fundamental freedoms and basic rights.
It is a stability maintained more through control and repression than through genuine prosperity or justice.
Conclusion
Azerbaijan is a country where state power dominates nearly every aspect of life, while ordinary citizens are left as silent spectators of a bitter reality.
Widespread corruption, the appropriation of public wealth, and a deeply rooted culture of bribery have created a cycle of injustice that has affected not only the government but society as a whole.
Author: Gouya Roshan
Author's Note:
The views expressed in this article are based on my personal experiences, direct observations, and conversations with many citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including doctors, government employees, workers, and ordinary members of society. This article reflects the author's personal perspective and understanding of the realities I have encountered during the years I lived and spent time in this country
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