Azerbaijani singer and public figure Nura Suri has publicly detailed what she describes as years-long corruption schemes within the Ministry of Culture, including the forced appointment of artists to fictitious positions and the use of performers as intermediaries for honorary titles.
Her allegations, documented in an interview with Vesti Baku, shed new light on longstanding complaints from cultural workers about entrenched misconduct inside the ministry.
Suri says the problems span at least 15 years. According to her, many musicians were formally assigned to positions in cultural centers only to be dismissed a year later – but not before being compelled to pay out of pocket for full renovations, furniture, computers, and even musical instruments.
“Artists were appointed on paper, then forced to finance repairs and equipment themselves. This was a mechanism to later justify awarding honorary titles,” Suri said in the interview.
She also claims that some artists were fraudulently registered as “soloists” in state theaters solely to file title recommendations on their behalf – recommendations that, she argues, should now be examined to determine who signed and submitted them.
A proposal she refused
Suri recounts that she herself was once approached with such an offer. She says mediator Narmina Gafarli, then working at Baku City Culture Department, proposed making her head of a cultural house – but only if she personally financed repairs and upgrades totaling roughly 100,000 manats. Suri rejected the deal, calling it an attempt to misappropriate state funds while shifting legal responsibility onto her.
Officials under scrutiny – and those untouched
Suri notes that after 2020 inspections some officials were held accountable, including former Deputy Minister Rafiq Bayramov, who faced corruption charges. But she argues that certain individuals inside the system remain “untouchable,” citing Menzar Nuralieva as an example.
She also claims she recently saw Gafarli and Nuralieva together in a restaurant, which prompted her to speak out again.
Pressure, disinformation and an attempt to change the agenda
Suri says she is currently facing coordinated pressure campaigns. According to her, websites and social-media pages are publishing targeted attacks aimed at discrediting her and shifting public focus away from corruption allegations.
“This is no longer criticism. It is a deliberate, organized attempt to change public opinion,” she said.
She adds that in recent days media outlets have artificially inflated the topic of honorary titles in an attempt to drown out discussions about corruption.
“I do not want any honorary title. None of the artists raising these issues ever asked for one,” she said.
“We want a real investigation”
Despite the backlash, Suri says she trusts state institutions and is ready to cooperate with investigators.
“I believe in the justice of our state and am ready to support any investigation,” she emphasized.
She argues that many complaints from artists remain unexamined and calls for a transparent inquiry into how titles were awarded, who submitted recommendations, and under what conditions cultural institutions were being run.
