COP29. Protesta contro la deforestazione. Minacce della polizia. Riassunto del video in inglese nei commenti

Long story short:

Ilkhan Mirzayev is a journalist and environmental activist living in a village in the Lerik district. He graduated from Moscow State University and worked as a producer at NTV channel in Russia. Later, he returned to Azerbaijan, built a small house in a forested area in Lerik, and currently resides there.

Ilkhan actively fights against illegal logging, river pollution, and overall environmental problems in Lerik. He opposes the destruction of forests and nature, exposing illegal activities in this field. For example:

He battles against the “forest mafia” and strives to prevent the felling of trees for material purposes. Ilkhan places hidden cameras to record those who illegally cut trees and publicizes this information. As a result of his efforts, illegal logging has significantly decreased.

He combats the pollution of rivers in Lerik caused by waste disposal. Specifically, he has documented the discharge of waste water by the company “Azersu” into the rivers and has appealed to the Ministry of Ecology and other relevant organizations. However, his complaints have not received the necessary attention.

Conflicts with the Police:

Due to his highlighting of environmental issues and exposing illegalities, Ilkhan has faced conflicts with the police.

He recorded and publicized a police officer throwing garbage from his car. The officer responded with rude behavior and refused to identify himself. Because of these activities, Ilkhan was detained at a police station for two days. He reports that during his detention, his phone was unlawfully confiscated, and one of the police officers used insulting language towards him. He has been charged under Articles 147 (defamation) and 148 (insult) of the criminal code. The accusation under Article 147 was not proven, and only the case under Article 148 continues.

Animal Rights and Social Activities:

lkhan cares for and shelters stray dogs. He currently looks after 12 dogs, some of which are injured or disabled. He criticizes the public’s indifferent attitude towards stray animals and works to defend animal rights.

He claims that animals are subjected to torture and that funds are misused at the “Toplan” Stray Dog Care Center, established by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Baku City Executive Power. Consequently, he and other activists have organized protests against the center.

Messages and Proposals to Society:

Ilkhan urges people to be more sensitive to environmental problems and the protection of nature. He calls on citizens to be active, to safeguard nature, and to fight against environmental crimes. To prevent residents of Lerik from cutting down forests for firewood, he suggests using alternative energy sources. He emphasizes that utilizing solar, wind, and hydro energy will both protect nature and meet people’s energy needs.

Challenges Faced:

Despite his complaints and appeals, Ilkhan notes that officials show indifference to environmental issues. He states that the Ministry of Ecology and other organizations are not fulfilling their duties. Due to his activism, he has faced both physical and psychological pressures. He has been threatened by the forest mafia, experienced rude treatment from police officers, and has even been detained.

Despite all these challenges, Ilkhan Mirzayev continues his struggle for the protection of nature and animals. He strives to contribute to increasing environmental awareness in society, preventing illegal activities, and encouraging people to behave more responsibly. His main goal is the preservation of nature, solving environmental problems, and leaving a healthier environment for future generations.