Caucasian Political Changemakers

Author: Nurana Novruz, Lilit Arakelyan, Nino Imnaishvili
19.10.15
Edition: Youth

There are few young people in the South Caucasus who have made their place in the countries' political sphere. For young politicians from Armenia the road was full of psychological pressure and physical violence. Politician from Azerbaijan thinks that Azerbaijani politics is obsolete and in the politics of Azerbaijan, more men are involved rather than women. However, the 24 years old politician - Mariam Sajaia  is the youngest politician in Georgia's recent history. Mariam is a member of parliament and she faced many challenges on her political way. 

 

Hagar Abbasli, 26, is a talented, active and hard-working young woman who wants to become an MP in Azerbaijan. She is an internally displaced person (IDP), who now lives in Sumgait. Her goal is to become the first female prime minister of Azerbaijan. But first, she wants to become a Member of Parliament. Hagar will participate in the fifth parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan which will take place in November. She says that if she is elected, she will seek to solve people’s problems. “We don’t hear official bodies because we do not have the status. If I am a deputy, I will be easily accepted everywhere. I will try to pass legislation on youth development in Parliament, and will focus on youth education abroad.”

“Another reason why I have chosen the path of politics in Azerbaijan is that in politics, there are many more men than woman. Only 19 out of 125 deputies in the National Parliament are women. Gender equality does not comply. I want to increase these figures to a women majority in politics. I want to come to Parliament to represent displaced young people. Because no one is interested in their problems. An MP’s job is not to push the button in parliament.”

Hagar is from Sumgayit, and it means that like others, every morning, she goes to Baku for work. However, Hagar wants to change this situation when she is a deputy. She promises to open more vacant working places for youth in Sumgayit. “I will try to organise that the youth that are working in Baku, won’t have need to go to the capital, but can stay and work in Sumgayit. It is difficult from both sides: physically and financially. Sumgayit is known as the city of Youth but now there is nothing for them.”

Hagar says, that when she was 16, she started actively taking part in the social and political processes. “My father raised the interest in me.”
She met with a family of electorates. She is interested in their family problems. The head of the family died. The wife is disabled. The representatives of the executive power promised to help, but nothing changed. Their hope is - the future deputy - Hagar.
After completing this meeting, Hagar left and went to one of the cafes where she spends her leisure time. There, she said that our policy is old. Youth give strength, confidence, perspective. Therefore, it is necessary to enable the youth to step forward.

 

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