Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan - a nation of Turkic Muslims - has been an independent republic since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Despite a cease-fire, in place since 1994, Azerbaijan has yet to resolve its conflict with Armenia over the Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh enclave (largely Armenian populated). Azerbaijan has lost about one-seventh of its territory with this conflict, and must support some 750,000 refugees from the fighting.
As a Caspian Sea state, Azerbaijan is capitalizing upon the sea's sizeable, but as of yet mostly untapped, hydrocarbon resources. Corruption is ubiquitous, however, and the promise of wealth from Azerbaijan's undeveloped petroleum resources remains largely unfulfilled.
Ilham Aliyev took over as president from his father, Heydar, following elections in October 2003. Heydar Aliyev had been a candidate for re-election but declining health led him to pull out of the race just a couple of weeks before the vote, describing his son as his "political successor.” Ilham was already vice chairman of the state oil company, his father's deputy as leader of the ruling new Azerbaijan Party, Azerbaijan's representative to the Council of Europe and president of the Olympic Committee. In the summer before the elections and to the dismay of the opposition, parliament approved the president's request that Ilham be appointed prime minister. After Ilham won the presidency by a landslide in October 2003, Western observers said the campaign had been marred by voter intimidation, violence and media bias. The opposition pledged to challenge the result. Protest demonstrations by their supporters were met with police violence and arrests.
Heydar Aliyev, a former Soviet Communist leader, had ruled Azerbaijan with an iron fist since 1993 following a period of great instability. He was credited with bringing stability to a volatile country, engendering foreign investment and economic growth. Ilham Aliyev’s previous reputation was that of playboy and gambler. The opposition continues to have strong doubts about Ilham Aliyev's commitment to democracy. These were reinforced when police used force to break up opposition demonstrations in Baku in the run-up to and following November 2005 parliamentary elections in which the ruling party won well over half of the seats. Western observers declared that the vote had fallen a long way short of international standards. Demands by peaceful protesters for the results to be overturned were declined by the authorities, although Aliyev did acknowledge irregularities in a handful of constituencies where he ordered reruns.
Crime is the main security concern affecting foreigners (please see "Crime" below).
As a result of conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh area of Azerbaijan, insurgent forces occupy about one-seventh of Azeri territory (in the southwest along the borders with Iran and Armenia). A cease-fire has been in effect since 1994, although reports of armed clashes along the cease-fire line and along the border with Armenia continue. Talks between the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia in 2005 over the disputed enclave met with no progress.
Azerbaijan has been in a long-standing dispute with Iran over offshore drilling rights.
Baku does not have substantial black market currency exchange activity, however it has a large U.S. dollar and Azerbaijani currency counterfeit market. When exchanging money, ensure that you only change money in legitimate, recognized businesses.
The political situation in Baku is currently stable. Baku held countrywide parliamentary elections in November 2005. Opposition groups staged sanctioned and unsanctioned demonstrations before and after the elections that made international headlines. While no Westerners were reported injured, some of these demonstrations resulted in confrontations with police, street closures and traffic disruptions. Violent riots also accompanied Azerbaijan's 2003 presidential election resulting in one fatality. Avoid areas where a heavy police presence is noted and to stay up-to-date on the latest political situation; registering with your embassy can help you stay abreast of current events.
Note that Azerbaijan is a predominantly Muslim country; be prudent in dress and behavior. Men generally do not wear short pants. Muslim holy days are widely attended and caution should be used when traveling on these days.
To prevent police harassment, avoid taking photographs of military installations, government buildings and mosques.
