Referendum Passes and Holiday Starts

Central planning and consolidated executive power has its benefits. Hold a referendum that will be widely criticized by the west but make sure you do it right before the entire country goes on a 10-day holiday. It's even better than our political tradition of announcing bad news in August when everyone has abandoned D.C.

Not surprisingly, the referendum passed yesterday. Initial estimates have some 92% of the electorate voting in favor of the measure and voter turn out well above the 25% needed to legitimate the result. The opposition is claiming widespread voter fraud. My favorite report is from Radio Liberty which appears to have captured on video a woman stuffing three ballots in the box. As they say, vote early and vote often.

And here is my update for CS Monitor.

Now that the messiness of "democracy" is behind Azerbaijan it is looking forward to celebrating Novruz. Even the weather was nicer today with real patches of sunshine. On my way home this afternoon I snapped these photos as folks prepare for the holiday:


This potted grass is on sale everywhere. It represents fertility and growth as the winter ends and the spring begins. Azerbaijanis display it at home and, according to one of my colleagues, put all sorts of decorative items among the blades of grass (kind of like an Easter basket). My friend Jenn got one of the best photos of the grass being sold on top of an old Soviet Lada. She also has a really nice explanation of the holiday posted over on her blog.

For me, I'm getting out of dodge. A little french wine, a few pastries, and evenings spent under the eye of the Eiffel Tower is just what the doctor ordered.