The run-up to the November 6 parliamentary elections was supposed to see the homecoming of Rasul Guliyev. Guliyev was a vice-premier in the government in the early 1990s, and later became the Speaker of Parliament. Having left the post in 1996 after allegations of large-scale graft, Guliyev departed to self-imposed exile in the United States. During the pas few years, Guliyev has become one of the most radical critics of the Azerbaijani government.

Azerbaijani authorities have long been seeking Guliyev’s arrest and extradition, accusing him of large scale plundering of state property while occupying positions including heading oil refineries in Baku in the early 1990s. In September, during a press conference, Minister of Internal Affairs Ramil Usubov declared that Guliyev had plundered state property worth US$120 million.

Official Baku also stated that while living abroad, Guliyev had conducted subversive activities against the country. In May 2003, Dutch authorities detained Guliyev at Amsterdam airport based on an Interpol arrest warrant. But he was released the next day. Guliyev’s lawyer, Fuad Agaev, alleges that the criminal case against his client is baseless.

The present brawl surrounding the former speaker began with his unexpected registration as a candidate for the parliamentary elections in the 36-IV Khatai electoral district of Baku city – a Guliyev stronghold in the oil districts of the city. Two hours later, the Public Prosecutor decided to deprive Guliyev of candidate immunity and charged the Ministry of Internal Affairs to execute the decision of the Sabail regional court, i.e. to arrest Guliyev upon return to the country.

In response, the Azerbaijani opposition established a national committee on Guliyev’s return. Guliyev then decided to return to Baku by a chartered flight on October 17. The chief of staff of the ‘Azadliq’ opposition block Panah Huseyn declared that as an officially registered candidate, Guliyev has the right to return home and take part in the election campaign. The deputy chairman of the Democratic Party, Sardar Jalaloglu, argued that Guliyev’s decision to return was in response to popular demands. \"Nothing can prevent his arrival. He is aware of the threat of arrest. Only his death can prevent his homecoming\", Jalaloglu said.

The authorities’ reaction followed almost immediately. Public prosecutor Zakir Garalov declared to media representatives that if Guliyev would return to Azerbaijan, he would be arrested – adding that a separate chamber in the Bayil jail had been allocated for him: “Rasul Guliyev will be arrested at the moment he steps on Azerbaijani soil. The court decision is in force and will be implemented upon his return to Azerbaijan\", Interior Minister Usubov declared.

The opposition even postponed a meeting of ‘Azadliq’ activists planned for October 16, asking supporters to gather and welcome Guliyev at Baku’s international airport. Nevertheless, Baku’s mayor Hajibala Abutalibov declared this meeting, planned for October 17, illegal as organizers had not applied for a permission to hold such an event. On the night of October 17, law enforcement bodies conducted a series of raids, targeting persons connected with Guliyev. Among the arrested was former Minister of Finance Fikret Yusifov. In his possession were found firearms, 100,000 Euro and % 60,000 in cash, as well as receipts of money for financing Guliyev’s return. The former Head of Ganja city’s police department, Natig Efendiyev, and over 30 members of ADP were also arrested.

Starting from the morning of October 17, security in the area adjoining Baku’s international airport was strengthened. The highway connecting Baku with the airport was controlled by Interior troops in armored vehicles. The Ministry of Internal Affairs released a statement saying that secret arms and ammunition caches had been discovered.

By 4.00 PM, the time of Guliyev’s planned arrival, it became known that an airplane belonging to London Executive Airways airline (LEA) was in Simferopol and had officially requested permission to land in Azerbaijan. According to the Head of the Azerbaijani Airlines Jahangir Askerov, a fax was sent to LEA and to the dispatching service at Simferopol airport, granting landing permission for the plane with six passengers.

However, at the last moment, Guliyev refused to return home and according to the head of the Azerbaijan national bureau of Interpol Madat Guliyev, he had been detained in Simferopol by Ukrainian law enforcement bodies. Hence the former speaker disappointed his supporters for the second time. The first had been before the 2003 presidential elections, when Guliyev had promised to return but failed to do so.

Mubariz Gurbanly, a spokesman of the ruling Yeni Azerbaycan Party, stated that “on October 17, the Azerbaijan people became witness of the destruction of the myth created by the supporters of Rasul Guliyev. They thought the people would rise to protect Guliev upon his return. But this failed to happen.”