Azeri Leader Heydar Aliyev’s Statue Creates Controversy

By ⋅ October 3, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment
Former Azerbaijan President Heydar Aliyev is accused by human rights groups of crushing dissent in his country. (Photo: BBC)

Former Azerbaijan President Heydar Aliyev is accused by human rights groups of crushing dissent in his country. (Photo: BBC)

For the Geo Quiz, we are looking for the place where you would find a new statue of the former President of Azerbaijan.

It is a life size bronze statue of Heydar Aliyev. Aliyev ruled with a Stalinesque, iron fist over the oil rich nation until his son succeed him in 2003.

Baku would be good guess. That is the capital of Azaibaijan and the largest city on the Caspian Sea. But then again just about every major city has a larger than life statue of the Azeri strongman.

Actually the new statue were looking for is in North America, in the largest Spanish speaking city in the world.

It’s right near the newly refurbished Azerbaijan Park.

Mexico City is the answer to the Geo Quiz. It is there that a new statue of the late president of Azerbaijan has kicked up some controversy.

Anchor Marco Werman talks to The BBC’s Will Grant, who has seen the statue, to get more details.

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Discussion

2 comments for “Azeri Leader Heydar Aliyev’s Statue Creates Controversy”

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/IXT4O2PTAFOAZ6OIGOFKOJCMZQ Lubov

    This statue is so friggin awful. And the fact that it’s a
    weeks-long-running story is shameful. Who cares. How about instead of talking
    about a dumb statue, talk about Mexico’s and Azerbaijan’s rampant corruption?
    In Mexico, it’s the drug cartels. In Azerbaijan, it’s the
    business-oil-government alliance. Run by Minister of Finance Samir Sharifov and
    First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva. Kickbacks, bribery, corruption. Depleting the
    children’s future fund from SOCAR, SOFAZ (state oil funds). Awul.
     

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/L2A6LSF2KIOZZ6DHSATKZKX7QE Rasim

    the Azerbaijan first lady mehriban aliyeva and Azerbaijan
    finance minister samir sharifov are criminals. As a Member of Parliament,
    Aliyeva is incompetent.

     

    According to Mehriban Aliyeva’s Wikipedia page
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mehriban_Aliyeva, Aliyeva appears to not be very
    informed about political issues, even though she is an appointed member of
    Azerbaijan’s Parliament. The diplomats noted, “she appeared poorly
    informed about political issues and could only respond knowledgeably about
    issues relating to the Heydar Aliyev Fund.”