Azerbaijan is a country which takes Eurovision seriously.
There’s no doubt about it when the sheer amount of money the Azeris have spent on Eurovision over the years is considered (rumoured to run into several million Euros). Some predicted “Drip Drop” would do it in 2010 but alas it was 2011 when Azerbaijan finally stole the thunder. Ultimately, gaining the Eurovision crown presents an opportunity for Azerbaijan to present itself to the world and on its own terms – a goal worth attaining.
Immediately following Azerbaijan’s victory there was speculation concerning the hosting of Eurovision in Baku in 2012. Indeed it was interesting to note at the press conference after the live final that the response was somewhat muted. The EBUs’ Jon Ola Sand stated that he “invited Azerbaijan to begin discussions” on hosting. Compared to the previous year, where there were discourses of “see you in Germany”, this marked a more cautious approach to Eurovision planning. It seems that for some, Baku is beyond. Why is it though that an Azeri Eurovision is viewed with caution and even suspicion?
The reason Eurovision may head to Baku - 2011 winners, El & Nikki.
In the gaze of the global media Azerbaijan has not fared too well; the conflict with neighbouring Armenia over the sovereignty of the Nagorno-Karabakh as well as reports of widespread corruption and human rights abuses have all had an impact on the image of the country. Whilst Azerbaijan has arguably walked a tightrope between European integration, joining the Council of Europe in 2001 whilst continuing to develop ties with Russian partners in the East, there continues to be concern amongst the international community over the country’s human rights record.
Logistics are also a real issue. Baku is four hours ahead of the UK which means that the contest will start at midnight and go on until well into the morning. Effectively any aftershow party will be a morning affair. Scrambled eggs on toast anyone?
Let’s take a look at some of the possible reasons why there appears to be concern over Eurovision going to Baku in 2012 and are those concerns really justified?
As the Soviet Union collapsed, a pressure cooker of national questions exploded across the region; the fate of the Russian speakers in the Baltic States, the challenge of Chechen separatism from the Russian Federation and Armenians in Azerbaijan.
Nagorno-Karabakh is a region which is technically part of Azerbaijan but with a majority Armenian population. After the collapse of the USSR the Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh announced their intention to secede from Azerbaijan. War broke out between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which according to the BBC, left 800,000 people displaced. A ceasefire was declared in 1994 however Armenian forces still effectively control the area. Arguably great wrongs have been committed on both sides and it’s not the aim of this article to dwell on these issues. However it cannot be ignored since the tensions have even spilled over into Eurovision.
In 2006, the Armenian singer Andre, had “Nagorno-Karabakh” listed as his place of birth, technically the country of birth would have been the Azerbaijan SSR (he was born in 1979) so this section was removed from the singer’s profile leading to an outcry in the Azeri press.
2009 also saw controversy throughout the live broadcasts of the semi-finals and final. During the semi-finals, an introductory “postcard” leading into the Armenian performance depicted, amongst other monuments, a statue located in Stepanakert, capital city of Nagorno-Karabakh. The statue was built in Soviet times to celebrate the Armenian heritage of the area. Azerbaijan complained to the EBU that the video clip was unacceptable based on the fact that Nagorno-Karabakh is a part of Azerbaijan, and it was subsequently edited out for the broadcast of the final. In retaliation, the presenter of the Armenian votes held up a clipboard with the monument’s picture on it multiple times as she read off the votes, and in the background a screen in the capital’s main square could also be seen to display the disputed monument. Again, an example of Eurovision being used as a vehicle for nationalist politics, displayed to a global audience.
The controversial image in question - Tatik Papik monument in Stepanakert
Things got even murkier when in August 2009 the BBC reported that several people had been questioned in Azerbaijan after their votes for Armenia were traced by mobile phone service providers. According to the BBC “one man was accused of being unpatriotic and a “potential security threat” after he sent a text backing Armenia’s song […] the Azerbaijani authorities said people had merely been invited to explain why they voted for Armenia” (BBC News, August 18th 2009).
One can only imagine what the reaction was like in Yerevan when Azerbaijan won Eurovision this year. What if Armenia choose to enter Eurovision in Baku? Would the delegation be safe? Armenia has yet to confirm whether they are entering in 2012. In the event that they do, the Azeri authorities have already stated that the security of the delegation is guaranteed.
Alleged human rights abuses in the country are another issue which have caused concern for some fans. According to Amnesty International torture, police corruption and excessive use of force are said to be widespread. Freedom of the press has been curtailed in the past decade and this has seen the imprisonment of several high-profile critics of the government.
Freedom of expression is also of concern to many. Could it be that there are worries that freedoms of the press might be curtailed? Of course there is also the pink elephant in the room – the many gay fans that the contest attracts. Would an influx of flamboyant gentlemen upset the locals in this Muslim country, albeit a secular one? Those who criticised Serbia and Russia for their stance on LGBT issues would likely have a field day in Azerbaijan.
However could Eurovision therefore be used as a tool for good? Are fans and pundits really justified to be so worried about Azerbaijan hosting Eurovision?
There is also the annual nightmare of accommodation to be considered. Does Baku have enough hotels and if so, are they going to be too expensive for most? In June this year the Azeri authorities released a statement saying that accommodation would “not be a problem” and that apartments will be plentiful for those not wishing or able to stay in hotels.
Of course there is the issue of finding a suitable venue. Rumour has it that the Azeri government has put out a tender for proposals concerning the construction of a completely new venue to host Eurovision in 2012. With under ten months to go the chances of this happening are looking slimmer with each passing week. The most likely choices are the existing Heydar Aliyev Sports and Exhibition Complex or the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium, either of which would still require some substantial work such as expansion of seating and roofing.
Heydar Aliyev Sport & Exhibition Complex
At this years Eurovision semi finals I was fortunate enough to grab a few words with the contest winners El and Nikki, who highlighted how seriously their country takes Eurovision. “Everyone follows it, it’s not just a song contest for us, we have the support of our politicians”, stated El. Nikki expanded, “if we win I think they [the authorities] go crazy, they will try to host the biggest and best Eurovision ever”.
The cynic in me thinks that hosting Eurovision could obviously turn into a PR stunt, the scale of which could dwarf the 2009 “Beijing Olympics of Eurovision”, to quote UK commentator Graham Norton. Maybe though, just maybe, this event might plant the seeds of change.
Soon after Azerbaijan’s victory in Eurovision over 90 political prisoners were released including the high-profile journalist Eynulla Fatullayev. Could it be that Eurovision is related to this?
The pressure will be on Azerbaijan if they are to host this event; the eyes of the world will be watching and as such this is an opportunity to shine in the global spotlight, a chance it has not had since independence. The stakes are high. The Azeri authorities will not want to be embarrassed and will undoubtedly do everything they can to stage the event successfully and safely. It is this legacy that might be the serious opportunity for everyday people in Azerbaijan wishing to have a little more of a say in the way their country is run, without fear of repression.
There have been similar fears before when Estonia, Latvia, Turkey, Ukraine all prepared to host. Rumours abounded in 2001 that Estonia could not afford to stage the event and yet they did and produced an incredibly slick programme. Ukraine’s chances of staging the event were seriously jeopardised after the Orange Revolution but in the end they managed. We were warned about Eurovision in Serbia (with the EBU even issuing an open letter telling gay people to try to refrain from public displays of same-sex affection or from talking about Kosovo) but on the whole things were fine. Again in Moscow, despite understandable concerns about safety of fans, Moscow Pride aside, the event itself passed largely without trouble.
Arguably there are serious issues in Azerbaijan, however with these concerns come opportunities. If Eurovision is as important to Azerbaijan as it appears to be then with that comes the chance for dialogue. For me the opportunity to go to Baku and to meet local people will be absolutely fascinating grounds for research. They said Belgrade, Istanbul and Moscow would be “too dangerous” and yet it was alright on the night. These events come and go and it would be incredibly sad to think that once Eurovision 2012 is over then media freedoms may be curtailed again in Azerbaijan. Maybe, just maybe, this old musical event might breathe new life into civil society in the land of fire. The clock is ticking and only time will tell…
I would really like to see another “Beijing Olympics Eurovision” just with a stage that actually makes the people in the stadium and at home feel like their in the stadium not the back row. Armenia will do the smart thing and say yes probablly sending a song filled with as much Armenian culture as possible, this could be a great oppurtunity for both nations. Imagine if Armenia won on Azerbaijani soil.