Shaki is a city in Azerbaijan, which is a presidential republic with a strong centralized government. The President of Azerbaijan is the head of state and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The government of Azerbaijan is dominated by the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (YAP), which has been in power since 1993.
The YAP has been accused of suppressing opposition voices and cracking down on civil society and media freedom. The government has been criticized for human rights violations, including the detention of opposition politicians and activists, restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, and mistreatment of prisoners. The country’s judiciary has also been criticized for lacking independence and for its failure to investigate cases of corruption and other abuses of power.
Shaki, like other cities in Azerbaijan, is subject to the political climate of the country as a whole. The city has traditionally been a stronghold of the ruling party, and several high-ranking officials and politicians, including Heydar Aliyev, were born or lived in Shaki. The city has also been a center of opposition to the ruling party, with several opposition leaders, such as Isa Gambar and Ali Kerimli, being born or living in Shaki.
In recent years, Azerbaijan has been embroiled in a conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but has been controlled by Armenian forces since the early 1990s. In 2020, Azerbaijan launched a military operation to retake the region, resulting in a decisive victory for Azerbaijan and the signing of a peace agreement with Armenia.
Despite these challenges, Azerbaijan has made significant progress in economic development, particularly in the oil and gas sector. Shaki has also undergone significant development, with the construction of modern buildings, shopping centers, and sports facilities.
In conclusion, politics in Shaki, Azerbaijan, is shaped by the political climate of the country as a whole. While the government has been accused of human rights violations and suppressing opposition voices, the region has played an important role in both support and opposition to the ruling party. The ongoing conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh remains a significant challenge for the region’s political stability and security. The region’s development and economic progress make it an important destination for foreign investment and international business.