Turkey a good and a bad example of democratic culture

Azerbaijan allocates a significant portion of its budget to boosting its image in the international arena. It?s much wiser to do so rather than dedicating its budget to military spending. No matter how much Baku spends on its army, it cannot match that of Russia, which it would face in the event of an armed conflict with Armenia to get back its territories under Armenian occupation. 

The first European Games in Baku are part of a public relations campaign. Human rights circles are usually against choosing anti-democratic administrations as hosts for prestigious international events. I beg to differ.
The international focus that comes with such events puts the spotlight more on the undemocratic practices of the government in question which otherwise might not attract the attention of the international public. 

It is, for instance, thanks to the European Games that I have become aware of the plight of opposition activist Emin Huseynov. 

Switzerland flew Huseynov out of Azerbaijan right at the beginning of the games after sheltering him for 10 months at its embassy in Baku.

A fierce critic of President ?lham Aliyev, Huseynov, who sought shelter at the Swiss Embassy last August, left his country on the plane of Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter, who was in Baku to attend the opening of the European Games, according to Radio Free Europe.

For me, the most interesting information came in the details of the reason why Huseynov had sought shelter at the Swiss Embassy. 

Huseynov heads the Baku-based Institute for Reporters? Freedom and Safety, a group that has repeatedly accused Aliyev?s government of restricting free speech. In 2008, he claimed that he was beaten by police officers in Baku who threatened to...