{"id":339612,"date":"2024-11-18T21:43:03","date_gmt":"2024-11-18T17:43:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/epress.am\/?p=339612"},"modified":"2024-11-18T21:43:03","modified_gmt":"2024-11-18T17:43:03","slug":"collective-statement-by-the-caucasus-feminist-anti-war-movement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/epress.am\/en\/2024\/11\/18\/collective-statement-by-the-caucasus-feminist-anti-war-movement.html","title":{"rendered":"Collective Statement by the Caucasus Feminist Anti-War Movement"},"content":{"rendered":"

Caucasus Feminist Anti-War Movement\u2014C-FAM<\/strong>\u00a0is an emerging movement of feminist and anti-war\/peace activists from Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Unified in our defiance, C-FAM originated from a powerful solidarity action to confront the greenwashing practices at COP29 taking place in Azerbaijan\u00a0on November 2024, one of the largest events in our region in recent times. Our movement embodies the principles of feminism, anti-militarism, anti-war, anti-authoritarianism, anti-nationalism, and anti-capitalism, opposing oppressive systems that perpetuate inequality and violence.<\/p>\n

We advocate for the radical decolonization of the South Caucasus, rejecting the oppressive binary imposed by Western and Russian influences, which fractures our region and suppresses its true potential. C-FAM is committed to dismantling the pervasive nationalist and patriarchal structures that fuel conflict and exploitation in our homelands.<\/p>\n

Our activism is rooted in intersectionality, recognizing that the liberation of one is inextricably linked to the liberation of all. We strive to forge a new geopolitical consciousness that prioritizes local voices and sustainable, community-led development over foreign intervention and corporate agendas.<\/p>\n

C-FAM calls for transformative change through direct action, educational outreach, and international solidarity. We aim to re-envision our region\u2019s future free from the shackles of neo-colonialism, militarization, and authoritarian rule, fostering a culture of peace and egalitarianism. We\u00a0fight\u00a0to create a South Caucasus that is autonomous, resilient, and grounded in the values of freedom and equity for all its peoples.<\/p>\n

Together, we reject the false dichotomy between\u00a0the\u00a0West and Russia, advocating for a third path\u2014one that is crafted by and for the people of the South Caucasus, reclaiming our region\u2019s agency and redefining its place in the world. We believe peace is not merely the absence of war, but the presence of justice.<\/p>\n

Our protest in Georgia\u00a0during the opening day of the COP29 summit on 11th of November 2024\u00a0is a testament to our shared resistance and the growing demand for a just future. We come together to expose the devastating impacts of authoritarianism, green capitalism, and the entrenchment of oppressive regimes across the region. As a coalition of feminist anti-war voices from across the Caucasus, we are challenging the narrative that seeks to isolate our struggles from global movements for justice. We reject the complicity of both local and international powers in maintaining systems of exploitation and demand an end to the erasure of our experiences and the voices of those most affected.<\/p>\n

Below, we share our full statement, outlining the core demands and messages of our movement. We hope it resonates with those who share our vision for a world that prioritizes freedom, equality, and sustainability over profit and oppression.<\/p>\n

Collective Statement by the Caucasus Feminist Anti-War Movement<\/strong><\/p>\n

Against<\/strong>\u00a0Azerbaijan\u2019s Authoritarianism, COP29 and Green Capitalism, Wars,\u00a0and Regional Slide into Authoritarianism<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the face of oppression, we raise our voices for those silenced. In the wake of greenwashing, we tear down the mask of exploitation. In the shadow of war, we demand justice for the people of the Caucasus: Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Georgians, Talysh, Lezgins, Avars, Tats, Kurds, Chechens, Kabardins, Tatars, Abkhazians, Ossetians, Cherkess, in total more than 50 ethnic groups that inhabit our homeland.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today, we stand united\u2014Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Georgian activists, along with allies around the world\u2014demanding an end to the systems of oppression that devastate our lands and communities.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We, a coalition of activists, came together to let our voices be heard and deliver several messages to the World.<\/p>\n

Together, we declare:<\/p>\n

1. Stop Azerbaijan: A COP29 Host that Masks Authoritarianism with Greenwashing<\/strong><\/p>\n

The\u00a0Azerbaijani regime\u00a0has\u00a0captured people into an open-air prison. It\u2019s land borders are closed for four years since 2020 under the pretext of\u00a0the\u00a0COVID pandemic. The regime wants to have full control over our bodies and\u00a0our\u00a0minds. It imprisons the ones who think differently, it exiles the ones who are declared to be ethnic and political others, it prevents the ones who are in the country to leave and find refuge elsewhere, it drowns\u00a0people\u00a0in poverty and oppresses dissent\u00a0by\u00a0taking the loved ones\u00a0of those dissenting as\u00a0hostages.<\/p>\n

Those who speak out \u2014 journalists, activists, feminists, or the brave souls without labels in villages like S\u00f6y\u00fcdl\u00fc and Nardaran \u2014 are met with police brutality, imprisonment, and, in some cases, risk\u00a0of\u00a0disappearance\u00a0without even an illusion of a trial.\u00a0 This isn\u2019t just political persecution; it is the systematic erasure of voices who dare envision a freer Azerbaijan. But as we see today, the regime fails to silence us all as we are among the\u00a0people who refuse to surrender their existence and\u00a0thus,\u00a0continue to resist.<\/p>\n

We stand here for our friends and comrades in Azerbaijani prisons:<\/p>\n

For Sevinj Vagifqizi<\/p>\n

For Nargiz Absalamova<\/p>\n

For Elnara Gasimova<\/p>\n

For Bahruz Samadov<\/p>\n

For Igbal Abilov<\/p>\n

For Farid Mehralizada<\/p>\n

For Gubad Ibadoghlu<\/p>\n

For Afiyaddin Mammadov<\/p>\n

For Fazil Gasimov<\/p>\n

For Aykhan Israfilov<\/p>\n

For Elvin Mustafayev<\/p>\n

For Mahammad Kekalov<\/p>\n

For Ulvi Hasanli<\/p>\n

For Hafiz Babali<\/p>\n

and\u00a0the\u00a0other 300 political prisoners.<\/p>\n

As these political prisoners languish behind bars, tortured in silence, the world looks away. For decades,\u00a0the\u00a0world\u00a0has\u00a0looked away and tolerated a dictator who oppresses\u00a0its own people.\u00a0These powers have not\u00a0only\u00a0tolerated\u00a0a dictator\u00a0but made his very reign possible\u00a0by\u00a0pumping his clan with oil money.\u00a0\u00a0It is only\u00a0in\u00a0the moment\u00a0when\u00a0this dictatorship\u00a0has\u00a0become dangerous for neighboring countries\u00a0that\u00a0some are opening their eyes. Aliyev failed to resolve this conflict for almost 20 years in power. His way was to start a war with Armenia and ethnically cleanse Armenians. However, even then we see how profit can make the\u00a0those\u00a0who have\u00a0a\u00a0voice\u00a0indifferent again.<\/p>\n

Today, we say: No more. Authoritarianism cannot be \u201cgreenwashed.\u201d The hypocrisy must end.<\/strong>\u00a0We call on COP29 attendees to demand the release of political prisoners in Azerbaijan and reject all forms of complicity in Aliyev\u2019s oppression. Environmental justice must mean freedom, not oppression masquerading as sustainability.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2. End Our Region\u00a0Being\u00a0a\u00a0Battleground for Capitalist and Imperial Interests<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since the first wells of oil were drilled in Azerbaijan, our region has suffered under the yoke of imperial forces. Today, both Russia and the West, and regional powers like Turkey exploit our region for profit and control, deepening divisions among our people. Under the guise of \u201cgreen energy,\u201d the West seeks new extractive markets, while Russia and Turkey cling to their imperial ambitions. Our countries are used as pawns \u2014 sites of conflict and profit, torn apart by outside interests. Nothing much has changed over a century: colonial and imperial logic of \u201cdivide and rule\u201d continues.<\/p>\n

Yet today it has a new mask-\u00a0a \u201cgreen and sustainable\u201d one.\u00a0 Under the name of green energy \u2013 a new brand for extractivism cloaked in sustainability rhetoric and entrenched in profit \u2013 Allies in the Global North\u00a0aim\u00a0to profit from the transit of green energy\u00a0and goods\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0Global East. But for \u201cin-between\u201d empires like Russia \u2013 we are only an asset and an ex-colony \u2013 the periphery of Empire, that it can\u2019t lose.<\/p>\n

Being on the crossroads of empires and world capital means bloodshed, war and enormous grief to us \u2013 indigenous peoples of these lands. Our national elites are in the same club with colonial powers and capital and will never be on our side. They\u00a0will never hesitate to impose war and devastation upon us to hold their power.\u00a0This is what\u00a0the\u00a0Azerbaijani regime\u00a0did\u00a0in 2020 by waging a war,\u00a0and later in 2023, by\u00a0ethnically cleansing Armenians from their homes. Let us be clear: Azerbaijan\u2019s plans to transform Nagorno-Karabakh into a so-called \u201cGreen Zone\u201d is an exploitation agenda built on ethnic displacement, raw material extraction and resource monopolization.<\/p>\n

To the profiteers: our region\u2019s \u201cgreen transition\u201d must not come at the expense of our people, nor should it deepen inequality or exploit our resources. We demand a transition that serves the people, not global corporations or empires.<\/strong><\/p>\n

3<\/strong>.\u00a0Keep the Local Tyrants Accountable<\/strong><\/p>\n

Imperialism screws us over, but that doesn\u2019t make our homegrown dictators any better. These so-called leaders only bring devastation, insecurity, and poverty. After more than 20 years of Aliyev\u2019s rule\u00a0\u2014\u00a0following the 30-year reign of his father\u00a0\u2014\u00a0the people of Azerbaijan have only endured suffering: lacking decent food, healthcare, jobs, education, and freedom.<\/p>\n

In Georgia, it\u2019s been over a decade of suffering under the rule of\u00a0the\u00a0Georgian Dream and Ivanishvili. The people have faced broken healthcare, precarious jobs, and a neoliberal economy that offers nothing but misery. Now, Ivanishvili wants to strip away freedom of speech and assembly, hiding behind the excuse of a \u201cGlobal War Party\u201d conspiracy, which conveniently lets Russia elude any responsibility for its war in Ukraine and its chaos in our region.<\/p>\n

These wannabe monarchs hold a massive chunk of our economies in their pockets. Ivanishvili alone controls a third of Georgia\u2019s GDP, while Aliyev and his family, let alone his daughters,\u00a0sit on an estimated $13 billion\u00a0\u2014\u00a0almost half of Azerbaijan\u2019s national budget.<\/p>\n

To our so-called leaders, we say: The people deserve dignity, not dictators.<\/strong><\/p>\n

4. Stand with the Caucasus: Not Isolated,\u00a0but an Essential Part of Global Struggle<\/strong><\/p>\n

South Caucasus\u00a0countries\u2014Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia\u2014are not in isolation and very much depend on world politics, but it is not a one-way street.<\/p>\n

Today,\u00a0the\u00a0Azerbaijani regime is desperate\u00a0and thus,\u00a0claiming regional power. They try to host COP29, influence elections in Georgia, actively engage in politics in Turkey,\u00a0have\u00a0a stronghold in Central Asia, buy off European politicians, engage in illegal lobbying in\u00a0the\u00a0USA, and of course,\u00a0force Armenia into political submission after the defeat in 2020. What is most\u00a0vile\u00a0is its ongoing role in and support for the genocide in Gaza\u00a0by supplying Israel\u2019s oil and gas. More than 40,000 people are massacred by\u00a0the\u00a0Israeli regime\u00a0with the support of the\u00a0Azerbaijani regime,\u00a0and its State Oil Company \u2013 SOCAR \u2013 is shamefully complicit in this.<\/p>\n

We are not separate from global politics, from what is happening in the rest of the world. We feel the chaos and turbulence of international relations more than people in the metropoles.<\/p>\n

We, the people of the Caucasus, reject the greed, violence, and hypocrisy of our elites and their global allies.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our Call to Action<\/strong><\/p>\n

We call upon all people, movements, and leaders to recognize that Azerbaijan\u2019s regime is the antithesis of justice. Let us join together to expose these crimes, to amplify the voices of the silenced, and to reclaim our discourse of social justice. Only a world that prioritizes freedom and equality over profit, and community resilience over capitalist growth, can sustain life on this planet.<\/p>\n

To those who try to divide us, we say:<\/p>\n

We will not choose between genocidal and non-genocidal fascism.<\/p>\n

We will not choose between Russia and The West.<\/p>\n

We will not choose between starvation and a false freedom.<\/p>\n

We will not choose between your imposed traditional values and your \u201ccivilized\u201d values.<\/p>\n

We reject these false dichotomies. We say: A plague o\u2019 both of your houses.<\/p>\n

Our struggle is global, our solidarity unbreakable, our commitment unyielding. No more silence. No more complicity.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Against\u00a0Azerbaijan\u2019s Authoritarianism, COP29 and Green Capitalism, Wars,\u00a0and Regional Slide into Authoritarianism<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":339503,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tstyn_error":""},"categories":[65991,66047,66041,65974],"tags":[91532,91534,91531,91533,57131,79425,91536,91535,91537,23057],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/epress.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/339612"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/epress.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/epress.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epress.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epress.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=339612"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/epress.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/339612\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epress.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/339503"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/epress.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=339612"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epress.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=339612"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/epress.am\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=339612"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}