Restricted environment and NGO activism in Azerbaijan: Shall we dance?

Ismayil Fataliyev

This piece of writing tries to shed light on how a real eco-activist NGO can succeed in Azerbaijani NGO-restrictive surroundings.via the experience of the Ecofront, a young ecoactivist group from Azerbaijan. In it, I'll try to analyze how an activist/organization can benefit both personally and professionally without betraying its/his/her values, and dignity and most importantly losing public trust. 

Conclusions stemming from this content are not ultimate neither for every geography and its society with its specificities and peculiarities, nor for every domain of NGO activism within one geography and society. However, they could be applied to every NGO in various domains so that they adjust them in their activities in a restrictive environment. These conclusions are rather guidelines to follow to different extent and scale, not postulates.

The Azerbaijani authority`s methods of ruling resemble the ones of a typical Azerbaijani family with the father taking all decisions and responsibility. Paternalistic in essence, it denies equality in the contribution of all grassroots in decision-making just as the father who would tell off his child for urging the former what to do. 

However, despite such a hierarchy the authorities leave unofficial communication channels open to be used by activists with relevant expertise in various domains who can bring true changes and contribute to tackling various problems. Why? While the father would pretend to listen to his child, he could benefit from ideas and recommendations as he realizes, as a famous saying goes, two heads are better than one, especially when the child `head is younger and full of modern thoughts with competitive advantages.

 

However, once a problem is solved or challenge is met, the authorities won't accept that it happened due to the recommendations and efforts of a particular activist or a group. Why? It will simply take it for granted just as the father who considers a family member's contribution as a duty. And even more so, authorities/fathers won`t remark and thank activists/children, at least in public. If it does so, the father/authorities risk damaging its image, credibility, prestige, and more importantly, intentionally breaking its monopoly. 

On one hand, such modus vivendi implies a constant reluctance to acknowledge non-state actors. On the other, the modus operandi it introduces provides the opportunity for community activists and groups not only to exist but effectively function. That is what I call the set game rules.

In some geographies, it can sound bizarre as ardent supporters of democratic values could claim it is unnatural. While true in principle, one must accept that the world is diverse. So are the countries it consists of and the people they populate. No doubt that people around the world tend to share common universal values, and take for granted human moral regulations and general rules for cohabitation in a society (Ten Commandments, good and evil, the concept of sin, etc). Simply put, people are well aware of what is good and what is bad. However, the more specific norms and rights behind them become, the more distinct the attitude of various societies, let alone their authorities, towards them. As another famous Azerbaijani saying goes, all fingers on one palm differ. Different communities interpret, perceive, and accept norms and attitudes towards them differently.

 

There are existing problems and challenges that both democratic and autocratic countries have. While the former enjoys a plurality of opinions, various freedoms, a high level of accountability, and power change in case of failure in tackling these problems, the latter`s citizens do not possess these advantages. Their activists are forced to carry out activities within restricted areas and scope. And here comes the dilemma. The more autocratic the political system that a certain society has, the more dangerous the consequences for individual and collective actions of its active members, NGOs are. 

The potential danger and menace are the intersection NGOs and activists find themselves at and have to take defining and decisive steps. In these circumstances, NGOs and/or active society members have several options to choose from. Either they halt their activities altogether or claim themselves as NGOs while retreating from their original standpoint. By doing so, the latter strictly observe set game rules even personally benefiting from them from time to time, leaving intact authority`s red lines due to fear of reactions. Whereas the third group adjusts existing set game rules into its activities and tries to push back those red lines to achieve its goals without violating them altogether and putting itself in potential danger. The non-violation of red lines is a must to have results attainable and activities - sustainable.

While public opinion towards the first group is confined to pity, these sentiments turn into aversion and irritation when it comes to the second group. The third group manages to keep public support, evade harassment, carry out effective activities, and become changemakers in an authoritative ambiance.

The 31-year-old J.G, an ecoactivist, has a bachelor's degree in economics from his hometown university in Baku and a master's degree in environmental policy and governance at Bristol University within the Chewing scholarship program. Back in 2018, together with a few confederates he founded Ecofront to protect forests.

 

J.G.`s eco-activism is peculiar since it comprises his eco-activist volunteer background with personal and professional experience in forestry that has distinguished him from the rest of his colleagues. While being informed of the deforestation issue from within (he was a temporary contractor at the forestry department of the Ministry of Ecology for 10 months) and empowered by relevant education gained abroad, his professional goal was to bring effective changes in forestry management and protect existing forest lands. Whereas the personal goal was to distinguish himself and his group from the rest.

 

I have always been active in ecological organizations. In 2010, eco activity in Azerbaijan was virtually gone. Green Baku, Friends of Nature, and other initiatives have been involved in clean-up mainly. We did it on weekends and afterward were drinking tea together. But one could never convince them that we have to object to any ecological problem. They still exist, slow down their activities, and don't object to any problems. It can't be called an eco-activism. I didn't like "their activism". I thought that while I couldn't change the organizations I worked with the way desired, I could create my one. The existing ones were, so to say, very "soft." They were reluctant to politicize issues. With a complete distraction from politics, there is no way to be a full eco-activist. Monitoring consumers` behavior, not eating meat, or throwing away plastic and litter are primitive eco-activities. When we started the EcoFront, the goal was to focus on more serious issues. If there is a political factor behind an ecological problem, it should be revealed. If you are talking about only its obvious sides, you will never achieve your goal. But you will just talk for talking. I came up with the name Ecofront and I sketched the logo. It means an ecological battle.

There could be several explanations for his attitude and viewpoint. Apart from Javid`s pure enthusiasm and devotion to ecological issues, by creating his organization he was aiming at filling in the gap on the "doers part" of the Azerbaijani spectrum of ecoactivists. He positioned himself and his organization as a “hard” actor opposite to “soft ones”. Awareness raising and other related NGO activities are not always eco-activism. In Azerbaijani NGO realities this could be a workplace for some, employing opportunities for others, hobbies, as well as promoting someone's (e.g. a protector) public image. True eco-activism is revealing, investigating, and objecting to an existing ecological issue. This objection can take various forms radicalizing from time to time and paving the way to irritation of others.

The more effective activities are, the less radically-prone the society becomes. Softer activities take the stage. The goal is to get a result. If the result is not achieved, it may be prone to radicalization of activists and their actions. The inability to unite society members around its activities adds up to activists` radicalization. The emergence and prominence of Ecofront in Azerbaijan were due to Albert Hirschman's "voice". In the current Azerbaijani reality among ecoactivists, the voicing was by far the most complicated decision and the rest of Javid`s colleagues from other organizations preferred to "exit". Some did it due to safety reasons.

The pressure on us is not systematic, but rather episodic, occasional. We were detained a couple of times. I was held in detention three times on ecological issues. Not for a long time, just five to six hours but anyway. Twice police detained us in Qusar, northern Azerbaijan. Once, border guards stopped us from filming forest massacres because we violated the border crossing regulations with my colleague Kanan. It was a successful campaign. There were 300 acres of land on the border. They wanted to destroy it. Several trees were already cut down. We trespassed the area without any permission from border guards. They passed us to the police. We paid a fine and got released. Usually, police hold so-called prophylactic conversations i.e. urge us not to act like this next time. Otherwise, we will face more serious consequences.

However, I think there are certain red lines. In case we cross them, we will face problems from authorities. I guess if one does not make obvious political calls, the authorities consider ecological issues so to say neutral ones. We overtly name officials in charge of wrongdoings. We have not seen any legal or other consequences for that or intimidation so far. If we manage to provide proof and give names, we won't experience problems. So far, we named Pasha Holding (believed to belong to the ruling family) or Kamaladdin Heydarov (incumbent Minister of Emergency State, once one of the most powerful politicians in Azerbaijan). We pointed out many wrongdoings in the projects of many other officials. Nevertheless, I think if we make an active political call, then we could have some problems.

 

This owes to the fact that although constitutionally freedom of assembly is among granted rights, in reality, it is a tricky challenge to call on a political protest that gathers masses. According to the Freedom House 2023 index, Azerbaijan is a non-free country with an overall score of 9 out of 100. Whereas the country has 7 of 60 points in Civil liberties, it holds only 2 out of 40 in Political rights. 

If someone joins an unauthorized protest, he or she will be immediately detained, and further consequences will aggravate depending on his /her behavior. Moreover, it means that NGO`s actions will be considered radical in the eyes of the public and fewer or no people will join or support them in any way in the future. In Azerbaijani political culture, raising placards, voicing demands and mottos, and sitting protests are all parts of a broader radical protester`s image. Instead, a result-oriented NGO seeks not to create an image of a relentless struggler, but rather a successful doer or agent. If it aims to reach its goal, it should accept the existing game rules. The NGO has to earn its legitimacy in the public eye. And successful activities, not noisy protests will form its legitimacy.

By observing set game rules and having created corresponding images, traditional methods of protests as well may be added to their arsenal. A hundred NGO supporters that gather in a sitting protest before, say, ministries to demand change will put the latter in a state of panic every next minute of a protest. The latter will constantly ask themselves why these hundred people are standing there. Even without actively doing something, they can achieve the set goal of causing anxiety. However, small numbers of, say,  3-5 people, won't help no matter how noisy they are. One needs to decide if his/her struggle is an ideological one. If so, it denies any compromise. If it is result-oriented it could lead to adjusting to existing rules with achieved goals as renumeration in the end. In the first case, one can`t tolerate anything that goes against his ideology. By doing so, he could fall into history as a relentless and uncompromised actor without guarantees that his activities would be successful. In the Azerbaijani realities, it can lead to imprisonment with further release and acquittal of the European court accompanied by the compensation due to be paid by the Azerbaijani government. However, the most disappointing thing is that not everybody will care about the activists` fate preferring to consign him/her to oblivion.

 

26 years old K.K. is the managing director who is responsible for day-to-day office activities. An electrical engineer by education, he once saw Ecofront`s cleanup on social media and decided to join more than three years ago.

 

I know an activist who lives in a village who has become marginalized and has nothing to do with the village`s community. And even if that person loves nature, he can't get the support of the people around him. Building a personal story, leaving a trace in history, is another story. There is very little room for setting up a personal story in eco-activism. When you don't get results you watch those tragedies and it affects you a lot.  When we can't prevent an ecological crime, it shocks us, when we can get it - it gives us and our supporters hope. We do not have the luxury of breaking the hope of our supporters to ensure our ego, to pursue our ambitions.  

Followers` support is a rare achievement to boast of among Azerbaijani NGOs. Only some can enjoy it. It is due to a successful strategy that brings fruits "on the ground". It is reflected in:

     •      activity results

(For the last couple of years areas of forests for leasing dropped from 7500 acres to 1700 and 150 in 2019,2020, and 2021 as well as dismissal and prosecution of state officials for wrongdoings that became revealed also thanks to Ecofront activities. For example, two forestry officials in the north-western Azerbaijan in late 2023 or head of the executive power in Gusar, northern Azerbaijan in May 2024) 

     •      growing number of followers and volunteers

(Currently, the number of followers on, say, Facebook crossed 31,000)    

 

•      of whistleblowers

(None of the information that comes to the NGO  is confidential i.e. its dissemination can not bear any legal consequences. It is forestry administration, ministry employees, ordinary people, as well as employed staff of businesses where forest destruction takes place who disseminate with the group necessary information)

 

•      enhance material-technical base such as renting an office

(the NGO brings together its members, and volunteers for awareness raising, and holding self-development training

 

•      raising numbers of subscribers and donors' contributions.

The last point is especially important as it indicates how sustainable and financially independent the NGO is. The former leads to the establishment of a sense of proximity and affiliation. The latter - to public trust, success, and independence. I will touch upon the financial transparency a bit later.

Another important factor contributing to a successful strategy is setting your red lines and never crossing them. One should never flatter a criminal, a corrupted official, or a lawbreaker. Flattering is a red line. Demand can be put forward without flattering. Another no-way is to appeal to supreme institutions e.g. the president for every minor matter. The institutional hierarchy should be observed as abusing it could lead to drawing a line over all the other methods. On the other hand, a successful strategy will pave the way to jealousy and scorn of colleagues and other peer organizations which is another indication of being on the right track.

The most vulnerable eco-activists are not always on the surface, especially in rural areas. For example, a community activist who wants to oppose destructive activity may even be fatally affected by, say, a business agent. Or, he or she may encounter the psychological pressure of the community as according to the latter, eco-activists, destroy their workplaces, deprive them of jobs, new roads, etc. Ecoactivism comes with anticipated danger to the activist`s safety. Whereas one opposes some kind of deluding activity, when one physically intervenes in it, there are already serious pressures and threats to his or her safety.

No other organization other than EcoFront has dealt with this. Not only have the others been able to help, but they have not even managed to put their positions in place once the names of important men and the oligarchs have been sounded. The former prefer to stand on the safe sidelines and take a quiet stance. While off the record some praise Ecofront for "working well", they never expose their standpoint even in a short publication on social media. There are others as well who stand against their colleagues in Ecofront accusing them of exaggerating matters. 

Some people think we are dealing with insignificant matters. Others say we fear to engage in political activism. But when you go in you realize it is more dangerous. And if anything happens to you, society will not stand up for it because "it is a minor issue".  Or, we are condemned by some for not being demanding or radical enough. Some have that expectation, others say why don't we flatter? If our goal is to protect the forest and we can do it by flattering, why don't we do it? They accuse us of caring for our egos.

As for financial transparency, the more transparent an NGO appears, the more trustworthy it seems for society in general and supporters in particular. Financial independence is one of the pillars of its successful functioning. However, it bears certain advantages and disadvantages. While successfully functioning a volunteer organization in its development comes to a point when it needs to have staff members. Increasing workload, a focal point for communication with peer organizations as well as state entities and other grassroots organizations, and simply personal lives and leisure times of volunteers are among the factors that make this decision to pop up inevitable. Once staff is hired, accountability is higher and NGO donors and supporters can easily demand from the former on financial costs it bears when carrying out activities. 

On the other hand, it can contribute to creating an image of red tape that always has had negative connotations among people since many could regard it as a haven for gaining money, a comfy workplace. Last but not least, it could lead to a loss of the sense of romanticism. In the case of Ecofront, ecoactivism has always been linked to certain romanticism just as protecting forestry has always had volunteers as its driving force.