Zakir Qaralov
Encyclopedia
Zakir Bekir oglu Qaralov (Azerbaijani
: Zakir Bəkir oğlu Qaralov) (born January 13, 1956), sometimes rendered Zakir Garalov, is a Georgia
n-born Azerbaijan
i politician who is currently the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan, an office equivalent to the attorney general
in other countries. Qaralov is a member of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party
and has held his present office for 11 years. He formerly served as the chief prosecutor in Ganja
. He is related to influential party official and longtime MP Zahid Qaralov.
opposition of collusion with Armenia
and warned that Armenian-backed government opponents were plotting a revolution against President Ilham Aliyev
's government.
In his capacity as prosecutor general, Qaralov defended the arrest of journalist Eynulla Fatullayev
in 2007, alleging that his website threatened state-sponsored terrorism
by Iran
against Azerbaijani government buildings. He claimed that Fatullayev's detention and imprisonment should not be taken as signs that Azerbaijan does not uphold freedom of the press
.
Qaralov benefited under a 2009 law that lifted restrictions on how many terms a prosecutor general could serve, as he was reappointed and confirmed to his current position in 2010, less than a year later.
In 2011, Qaralov said that his office would take action against government officials suspected of corruption
and bribery
. "In order to require the same attitudes from others and have the moral rights for investigation [of] corrupt officials' activity, we must start fighting against corruption from ourselves," he added, criticizing the "luxurious lifestyle" of some Azerbaijanis as evidence of corruption.
After the outbreak of the 2011 protests
against the Azerbaijani government, Qaralov vowed to "suppress" the demonstrations and said that the experience of "other countries", presumably a reference to Egypt
, Libya
, and Tunisia
, would not be repeated in Azerbaijan. Ahead of a planned protest in mid-April, Qaralov accused opposition leaders Ali Karimli
and Isa Gambar
with acting on orders from foreign governments and summoned both leaders for interrogation, after which they were released.
Azerbaijani language
Azerbaijani or Azeri or Torki is a language belonging to the Turkic language family, spoken in southwestern Asia by the Azerbaijani people, primarily in Azerbaijan and northwestern Iran...
: Zakir Bəkir oğlu Qaralov) (born January 13, 1956), sometimes rendered Zakir Garalov, is a Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
n-born Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
i politician who is currently the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan, an office equivalent to the attorney general
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
in other countries. Qaralov is a member of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party
New Azerbaijan Party
The New Azerbaijan Party is the ruling political party in Azerbaijan. It was formed on 18 December 1992 by the former President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev, who led it until his retirement and death in 2003...
and has held his present office for 11 years. He formerly served as the chief prosecutor in Ganja
Ganja, Azerbaijan
Ganja is Azerbaijan's second-largest city with a population of around 313,300. It was named Yelizavetpol in the Russian Empire period. The city regained its original name—Ganja—from 1920–1935 during the first part of its incorporation into the Soviet Union. However, its name was changed again and...
. He is related to influential party official and longtime MP Zahid Qaralov.
Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan
In 2005, Qaralov raised eyebrows when he accused the parliamentaryNational Assembly of Azerbaijan
The National Assembly , also transliterated as Milli Majlis is the legislative branch of government in Azerbaijan. The unicameral National Assembly has 125 deputies: previously 100 members were elected for five-year terms in single-seat constituencies and 25 were members elected by proportional...
opposition of collusion with Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
and warned that Armenian-backed government opponents were plotting a revolution against President Ilham Aliyev
Ilham Aliyev
Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev is the President of Azerbaijan since 2003. He also functions as the Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party and the head of the National Olympic Committee...
's government.
In his capacity as prosecutor general, Qaralov defended the arrest of journalist Eynulla Fatullayev
Eynulla Fatullayev
Eynulla Emin oglu Fatullayev is an Azerbaijani journalist and editor-in-chief of the independent Russian-language weekly Realny Azerbaijan and Azeri-language daily Gündəlik Azərbaycan newspapers. He was imprisoned for four years in Azerbaijan for his criticism of government's policies and for his...
in 2007, alleging that his website threatened state-sponsored terrorism
State-sponsored terrorism
State-sponsored terrorism is a term used to describe terrorism sponsored by nation-states. As with terrorism, the precise definition, and the identification of particular examples, are subjects of heated political dispute...
by Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
against Azerbaijani government buildings. He claimed that Fatullayev's detention and imprisonment should not be taken as signs that Azerbaijan does not uphold freedom of the press
Freedom of the press
Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the freedom of communication and expression through vehicles including various electronic media and published materials...
.
Qaralov benefited under a 2009 law that lifted restrictions on how many terms a prosecutor general could serve, as he was reappointed and confirmed to his current position in 2010, less than a year later.
In 2011, Qaralov said that his office would take action against government officials suspected of corruption
Corruption
Corruption usually refers to spiritual or moral impurity.Corruption may also refer to:* Corruption , an American crime film* Corruption , a British horror film...
and bribery
Bribery
Bribery, a form of corruption, is an act implying money or gift giving that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or...
. "In order to require the same attitudes from others and have the moral rights for investigation [of] corrupt officials' activity, we must start fighting against corruption from ourselves," he added, criticizing the "luxurious lifestyle" of some Azerbaijanis as evidence of corruption.
After the outbreak of the 2011 protests
2011 Azerbaijani protests
The 2011 Azerbaijani protests are an ongoing series of demonstrations being held to protest the government of President Ilham Aliyev. Common themes espoused by demonstrators, many of whom are affiliated with Müsavat and the Popular Front Party, the main opposition parties in Azerbaijan, include...
against the Azerbaijani government, Qaralov vowed to "suppress" the demonstrations and said that the experience of "other countries", presumably a reference to Egypt
Egyptian Revolution
Egyptian revolution may refer to:* Egyptian revolution of 2011, a series of mass popular protests leading to the resignation of Hosni Mubarak* Egyptian revolution of 1952, led by Muhammad Naguib, Gamal Abdel Nasser, and the Free Officers Movement...
, Libya
2011 Libyan civil war
The 2011 Libyan civil war was an armed conflict in the North African state of Libya, fought between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government. The war was preceded by protests in Benghazi beginning on 15 February 2011, which led to clashes with security...
, and Tunisia
Tunisian revolution
The Tunisian Revolution is an intensive campaign of civil resistance, including a series of street demonstrations taking place in Tunisia. The events began in December 2010 and led to the ousting of longtime President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in January 2011...
, would not be repeated in Azerbaijan. Ahead of a planned protest in mid-April, Qaralov accused opposition leaders Ali Karimli
Ali Karimli
Ali Karimli born Ali Amirhuseyn oglu Karimov is an Azeri politician and the head of the reformist wing of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party ....
and Isa Gambar
Isa Gambar
Isa Yunis oglu Qambar , also known as Isa Gambar or Isa Qambar , is an Azerbaijani politician and leader of Equality Party , the largest opposition block in Azerbaijan.-Biography details:...
with acting on orders from foreign governments and summoned both leaders for interrogation, after which they were released.