AZE.US
A new public row over wages and inequality has erupted in Azerbaijan after controversial remarks by MP Seyyad Aran triggered criticism and demands for political accountability.
The backlash followed Aran’s appearance on RTV’s Qaranlıqda həqiqət, hosted by Ruhiyya Aliyeva, where he argued that people should not be judged based on how much they earn and suggested that those who do better in life often get there through education, talent and personal effort. The sharpest reaction came after his remark that if not everyone can achieve the same results, they should “sit quietly and keep silent.”
That line quickly spread across social media and drew anger from many users, who said it showed how detached some officials have become from the daily reality of ordinary citizens.
Speaking to Globalinfo.az, Umid Party chairman Iqbal Agazade said the comment was especially troubling coming from a public figure. In his view, the problem is not simply the tone, but the fact that such statements ignore how Azerbaijan’s wage system actually works.
Agazade said many people with higher education, professional experience and strong work discipline still do not earn enough to support a decent standard of living. He argued that the idea that people rise solely through talent and hard work may sound convincing in a fair system, but does not reflect the deeper imbalances in Azerbaijani society.
He also pointed to past corruption cases involving officials whose formal salaries were modest, but who were later linked to large sums of money. According to Agazade, this shows that wealth and status in the country are not always the result of education, ability or merit alone.
At the same time, he said high salaries are not a problem in themselves. On the contrary, he argued that society should move toward a system where more people are able to earn well. But when minimum wages, average salaries, pensions and subsistence benchmarks fail to cover basic needs, the high incomes of MPs, ministers and other officials naturally provoke resentment.
Agazade added that lawmakers cannot distance themselves from the issue of low wages. He said MPs vote on the state budget, take part in shaping its priorities and later assess the government’s performance. If a deputy claims no responsibility for the fact that many citizens survive on 300 to 500 manats a month, then, Agazade argued, that same deputy should explain what steps he has taken to push for higher wages.
The dispute has now moved beyond a single controversial quote. It has reopened a broader question in Azerbaijan: whether people in power truly understand how ordinary citizens live, and whether official talk about effort and success still carries any weight in a system where many feel the rules are deeply unequal.