04-02-2012 12:33:41

Azeri group launches campaign against hotel giants

Activists of a civil movement have launched a campaign against some major hotel networks based in the Azerbaijani capital Baku over their alleged refusal to host events of independent and opposition organizations.

The Nida Civil Movement said it would send protests to the executives of the hotel companies in numerous languages, including by using online social networks, according to the organization’s website.

Nida claimed that Azerbaijani authorities have recently been using a new method to pressure the opposition, independent-minded people and organizations.

“On orders from the authorities, different hotels in Baku, despite previously reached agreement, at the last moment declined to provide space for the [opposition] Musavat party’s anniversary event as well as the events of the Forum of Intellectuals and some independent organizations,” Nida said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, the hotels of the world’s biggest and well-known networks, such as Ambassador Group, Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Hilton Worldwide, are aiding such blatant violations by the government of the rights of people struggling for democracy and justice,” the statement alleged.

Nida said it had launched a broad campaign on Facebook and other social networks to send letters in English citing actual reasons for the refusal of the hotel companies to host the events to the e-mails of their head offices.

Baku-based hotels usually explain with technical issues their refusal to allocate space for the functions of independent and pro-opposition organizations.

TAGS: Activists of a civil movement, Nida Civil Movement, Azerbaijan, Musavat party, Ambassador Group, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Hilton Worldwide