Epress.am News from Armenia
Ahead of the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest to be held in May in Baku, the Azerbaijani organization Free Youth (Azad Gənclik Təşkilatı) has issued a statement (published by Kultura.az) warning tourists visiting the country not to have sex under any circumstances.
The group says it wants to inform tourists of “some of the traditions and realities inherent in authoritarian regimes.”
“We want to let you know that Azerbaijan is a country with all sorts of civil rights violations, including suppressed freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, even freedom of movement. Total control over anything that might come to mind prevails in Azerbaijan.
“In particular, completely controlled are hotels and eating facilities. Presently, hidden cameras are installed on the premises of all known and unknown hotels without exception. That which is recorded on these cameras can later be used against tourists for blackmail, which has been happening in our country for many years.
[…]“Taking into account the difficult situation in Azerbaijan, we are urging tourists intending to come to Baku to participate in the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest to be careful! This particularly applies to couples. Do not have sex in Azerbaijan! Not only hotels, but also other premises are a risk — whether they be hostels, motels or rented apartments,” reads the statement, in part.