Baku takes reprisals on civil society pursing one goal only - to test the Western response on the fact that numerous journalists, human rights activists and just people whose opinions differ being apprehended, Sergey Markedonov, a famous Russian analyst, said during Caucasus-2014 International Conference in Yerevan on May 26.
The annual Caucasus-2014 International Conference is held for the 13th time in Yerevan. This time it is taking place on May 26. The event has brought together representatives of Armenia, Russia, Norway, and Georgia. The key developments in the South Caucasus in 2014 are on the agenda of the event. Sergey Markedonov has been presenting reports on Azerbaijan since 2014. All other conferenciers are imprisoned in Azerbaijan.
"I can say that the Western society has no how responded to "events" that fundamentally contradict the democracy and all values preached in Europe and by Europe. On this premise it can be surmised that the West sort of understands the reprisals taken on conflictology expert Arif Yunusov, social activist Leyla Yunus, journalist Rauf Mirkadirov who are accused of espionage on behalf of the Armenians", he noted.
However, the analyst believes that behind the Western towardness there is commitment to the so-called energy pluralism policy against Russia. Markedonov believes that Azerbaijan plays a significant role in this policy at the same time using the West as an alternative supplier of energy resources to Europe.
Thus, the analyst believes that only changes in the Western policy of energy pluralism can result in changes of the Western society's attitude towards the repressions in Azerbaijan.