Eurovision: Boom Bang-a-Bang

Like several other people I could name, even though until recently I couldn't even spell Azerbaijan, I now consider myself to be something of an expert on it.
And I can state quite authoritatively that it is not a very nice place.
Azerbaijan is a grubby little oil and gas-rich mafia state run by this crappy and corrupt dynastic regime, the Aliyevs.
Though they don't seem as big on state murder and mass political imprisonment as some of their neighbours, elections are rigged and freedom of speech is a somewhat nebulous concept [See Human Rights Watch Report].
Homosexuality is legal but remains a secret.
Tonight's Panorama, Eurovision's Dirty Secret, looked at how Azerbaijan's rulers are wetting themselves with excitement over Eurovision, as they want to milk it for propaganda value to try to normalise how they're seen on the world stage.
And why not? It's worked so well for the "European" state of Israel.
That a large residential area in the capital, Baku, was forcibly bulldozed to make room for the Eurovision stadium seems like a perfect metaphor for this whole sorry charade.
Rather hilariously, the first lady heads their Eurovision committee, and the half-time entertainment at the final will be provided by her doubtlessly talented son-in-law.
On Panorama you see the bizarre spectacle of a BBC reporter trying to get Engelbert Humperdinck to condemn the regime, claiming that his appearance is a tacit endorsement.
But the 'Dinck don't do politics, which means he's a lickspittle running dog of President Aliyev. 
If so, what does that make the BBC?
Azerbaijan is a bit of a pariah state, though the US has been extremely grateful for all their help during their wars against Iraq and Afghanistan.
They do have one really good new best friend though - Israel, who are hoping Azerbaijan will be just as accommodating if/when they bomb Iran.
It might prove instructive to watch how they both vote on Saturday.

PS There's been much chatter in the gay meeja about an apparent spat between Iran and Azerbaijan over a non-existent "gay parade" in Baku during Eurovision. Though there doesn't seem to be any official statement from the Iranian authorities on this - does anyone think it would be high on their list of priorities right now?
Please bear in mind that if you're reading anything about Iran it's likely to be a fiction. And please spare us your Orientalist fantasies.

Update May 23: 'Downing Street refuses to discuss UK plans for Iran-Israel conflict: PM's spokesman will not say what preparations are being made after claims that ministers discussed legality of intervention' BBC News.

Update2: Mark Lawson on the BBC's chutzpah/hypocrisy.