2005 Azerbaijani protests
| 2005 Azerbaijani protests | |
|---|---|
| Date | November 2005 |
| Location | Azerbaijan |
| Caused by |
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| Goals |
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| Methods | Demonstrations, Riots |
| Resulted in |
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The 2005 Azerbaijani revolt was mass rioting and violent protests against the results of the 2005 Azerbaijani parliamentary election, calling it a ‘rigged election’ in favour of President Ilham Aliyev. Violence during the demonstrations led to clashes and, soon, killings. Two protesters were killed on 9 November. According to the BBC, police detained 100 and threatened to shoot at the demonstrators. The protests spiralled out of control and turned into a revolt.
Background
Protests in Azerbaijan have been ongoing since the 1980s, when protests against Soviet rule erupted into violence. Hunger strikes and anti-government protests erupted in 1996-1997 and again in 2002-2003. In the era of the USSR, protests took place and were suppressed in: 1956-57, 1963-64, 1977-78, 1988-89. In 1998, mass protests erupted against the results of elections and the regime. Violence erupted against opposition protesters and pro-democratic protesters, and one has been killed. In 2002-03, a flare-up of violence took place against anti-government protests and pro-democratic protesters demanding an end to the regime. A failure to end the deadlock led to shootings and beatings of demonstrators. The regime has condemned and oppressed the freedom and rights of the people of the country.
Protests
Protests erupted on 8 November, when thousands mobilised in the streets, calling for the end of the government and fresh elections. Police fired tear gas and water cannon, but anger was rising and soon, violent protests erupted. Boiling protests took fire on the streets of Baku and spread to Fuzuli, Beylagan, Agsu and Ganja. The military was sent in to prevent the protests from rioting, but it was a failure; protests had turned into riots.
On 9 November, protests ceased and general strikes took place. After stone-throwing at some demonstrations in Baku, university students were met with tear gas and the stone-throwers were detained.
On 13-18 November, police seized thousands of buildings nationwide and hundreds of campuses, where student protests had been ongoing for a few days, and clashes had been flaring.
Mass protests spiralled into violence when the military and riot police threw rocks and fired gunfire and water cannon on demonstrators on 25-26 November, and soon, the protesters responded with paintballs and eggs. They called for fresh elections and an end to corruption. The opposition called for an end to protests due to the violence.
See also
- 2005 Azerbaijani parliamentary election
- 2015-16 Azerbaijani protests
- 2019 Baku protests
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