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Caucasus journalists are join their efforts against human traffic

Zahir Amanov

To Iran – to collective oral sex...

A victim coming by her own feet
Sometimes lambs themselves go under the knife …

By Arzu Soltan

US State Department in its 2003 reports indicates that trafficking in human beings is flourishing in Azerbaijan. And already in 2004, Azerbaijan government in collaboration with Baku office of OSCE prepared National Action Plan on Interdicting Trafficking of Human Beings in Azerbaijan Republic. Action Plan came into force by the Order of Azerbaijan Republic dated 6 May, 2004. We decided to check what had been done regarding this plan. Since Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, according to an official statistic with the population of 364 thousand people, is situated in the border with neighboring countries, we supposed that this region will be more sensitive to the ugly crime called trafficking in human beings…

We were right in our prediction; there is no need for microscope to observe the favorable condition for trafficking of human beings in Nakhichevan, use of the region mainly as a transit, and partly as a source.

As it is cheaper to take a bus from Nakhichevan to Turkey than fly from Baku to Turkey, many people use the former route. We have also heard that this is an auspicious route for souteneurs. Therefore, we decided to take that bus. I Arzu Soltan the reporter of “Azadlig” newspaper, and Zulfugar Kheyirkhabar, the editor of the “Sharg” newspaper, as journalists sent to an official trip to Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic to trace the problem of illegal trafficking of humans through borders within the project organized by International Center for Journalism (by the support of US State Department) with the headquarter in Washington…

And so we took the bus leaving Nakhichevan for Igdir, the border city of Turkey, not as journalists, but as common passengers. We sat in one of two big buses parked in front of the Nakhichevan city airport anticipating the next airplane fly from Baku. As soon as the airplane landed, peopled flowed into the buses.

Indeed, the women had a prevailing number among passengers. The driver stopped the bus in front by an order from Sedaget khanum (I do not know who is that woman but it tells about chain process) and two women get in. I colluded with my fellow-traveler and changed my place with one of the woman on any pretext.

We found a common language very easily. As she supposed that I’m going to Turkey for the first time and looking for a job, she took compassion on me and therefore started to answer my questions readily.

So, Eminova Husniyya Emin gizi (names are changed – A.S.). According to her, she is 40 year old (but it is naivety to trust woman regarding age issue, later I saw her birth year as 1961 in her passport…). She goes Turkey to work and narrates her background as an example.

She went to Turkey for the first time last month, i.e. this October. New relatives of her newly married daughter promised to help in finding a job for her. But as Husniye khanum failed to find her relatives, not wasting time anymore she decided to return after spending a night there.

Husniyye khanum who considers finding a rescue by working in Turkey, goes back and this time, according to her, she is more careful. After asserting that “This time I go from office”, Khanum is sure to find a job. To my question what does it mean “I go from office”, she replied that one of the employment firms “provides her with the job”. During conversation Husniyye khanum was frequently referring to the contract concluded with said firm and stated that she is sure of not being deceived.

So, souteneurs do not trouble themselves anymore by accompanying the victim, they just sit in Baku and control whole process…

With naivety, I asked her “are there deceivers, as well”? She started to speak about the woman (whose name is Zeynab) with whom she got in. By the way they got acquainted in the plane flying from Baku to Nakhichevan. First time Zeynab was taken to Turkey with the promise of finding a job of waitress. But as soon as she arrived, her passport was taken from her and she was forced to work as a prostitute in one of the hotels. As Zeynab, 30, didn’t have any other choice, she got to serve 8-10 clients per day. After earning 4000 dollars for a month, most of them taken away from her, she returned to Baku. Now every other month or 20 days, she voluntarily goes to that hotel to “work” and brings 3500-4000 dollars every trip… Sedaget khanum is her acquaintance. So you understand what does the acquaintance means…

Husniyye khanum doesn’t approve her work at all. “Isn’t she afraid of caching a disease?!” she expressed her dissatisfaction.

The firm promised to Husniyye khanum that an Azerbaijani man called Ilham would meet her and take to the office of the firm. After spending a night there and having some rest, Ilham will provide her with a work. The firm also promised to give a food for that night. But, she has no idea in what city and kind of work she is going to do. She just knew that her salary will be approximately 350-400 dollars.

It was indicated in the contract concluded between Husniyya and above-mentioned firm. She carefully showed the contract. “The company representative warned me not to show it on the way, if someone finds out that the reason of the trip is to work, you will be charged a lot of money” she said. As if, the firm demanded less money from Husniyya. First of all, Husniyya was required to buy a visa to Turkey and an airplane ticket to Nakhichevan. After showing these documents to the company representative, they asked 100 000 manant to enter into a contract. After paying 50 000 manat, which she was able to afford, she found out that she had to pay further 190 dollar to be provided with job and provided the firm with written guarantee of paying that sum from her salary to their Turkey representative. But it was not an end of her payments. The contract says that Husniyya Eminova has to pay 30% from the first salary to the firm. Husniyya khanum confirmed all these payments by her signature. But… It is difficult to say how much valid are the documents of the opposite side. The contract, shown me by Husniyya khanum, was written in Cyrillic, and did not have number, stamp, in short, any legal status, and was consisting just of collection of words narrated me by Husniyya. It was written that the firm undertakes to provide H. Eminova with job in Turkey. All other obligations were assumed by H. Eminova, i.e. traveling and other said expenses till Turkey. The firm also doesn’t bear responsibility if she decides to leave the job provided by the firm and find other one.

I’m interested in “how many copies the document was drawn up?” Husniyya khanum said: “In one copy, after copying the document to the book, it was given to me”.

I ask “190 dollar plus 30% of the salary. So, you will not get anything in the first month?” She answers that “I’m not sure, but maybe they mean 190 dollar under 30 %...?”

She intends to earn these moneys in Turkey and then pay back. But now… The passengers of the bus from Nakhichevan to Turkey were charged 160 000 manat. Husniyya khanum raised an objection against the amount and stated that “I have heard that the actual price of the ticket is 120 000 manat. After her objection, 2-3 more women declined of giving 160 000 manat. After some disputes, the representative of the Nakhichevan bus station took 10 000 manat from each of them and said that they would get off at the customs and left. When the bus started its journey, driver levied 130 000 manat on each of them. So, no one knew exact price of the ticket. After, Husniyya celebrated the economy of 20 000 manat and said the she had only 90 000 manat left!!!

“Are you planning to work in Turkey and send money to you family?” I asked. She has two daughters in Baku. Older has recently married, while younger newly graduated the school and stays with her grandmother. “No” was her reply. “I have purchased a sheepskin coat for my daughter and will send only the money for it, I’m planning to buy a house and therefore, I will collect them”….

I’m asking about the head of the family. Several years ago, he went to Moscow to find a job. Years are passing but he has sent nothing up to now. Thus, the family separated…

“Weren’t you able to find a job in Baku? Probably this is an unnecessary question. I may uncover myself. But she doesn’t pay attention. “I’m a journalist”, she says, “I’ve graduated Baku State University. But I failed to find profitable work appropriate to my specialization”…!!!

I try to hide my surprise. Huusniyya khanum ----------------------, cheers me up and advice me to be careful, return Baku and find a job from office…

Our fellow-travelers were on their way to big cities of Turkey. We, in our part, got off the bus in Igdir and headed back to Nakhichevan…

Now we are in Baku. I endeavor to contact that office…

The investigation work was done with the initiative of ICFJ and with financial support from US State Department