Residents reluctant to move out
Large-scale construction work is underway in Baku,
as whole streets with outdated one or two-story buildings sharing
inside facilities are being demolished and new buildings
constructed. However, this process is not always low-key. Some
residents are discontent with the amount of compensations offered
by executive authorities. Having failed to receive the desired
amount, they refused to be re-settled.
The nearly six-month-long tensions over the demolition of residential buildings downtown Baku boiled into a mass protest last week.
Having grown wary of what residents of the properties say is indifference of city officials and construction contractors, most of the residents received compensations and moved. Some, however, have resorted to tough action. Having realized that their reasoning was failing to convince officials, they became desperate and decided Friday to launch a hunger strike to make their voices heard.
The buildings, located on the Fuzuli and Shamsi Badalbayli Streets, mostly one-storied and obsolete, are slated for demolition, and a new park is planned in the area. The residents are not content with the compensation being offered to them. The settlers are offered 1,500-2,000 manats per square meter of dwelling space. Dozens of families are refusing to vacate the premises, saying that the compensation being offered would not be sufficient to purchase the same type of property in the city center. Nonetheless, demolition of the houses followed, though tens of people still reside there. ``They won`t leave us alone even at night,`` says Nuriya Khalikova, one of the residents. ``All night long, workers were crashing the roof of our three-story building yesterday, on orders from officials, and were dumping garbage in the courtyard. I came out and asked them to stop the mess. But the workers were just grinning.``
``No one wants to talk to us, no one would hear us out,`` she added.
Nigar Khalilova, another resident, claims that officials are even reluctant to convene a commission to re-measure the space of her property.
``I have 67 square meters of dwelling space, but they are offering me a compensation for just 42 sq. m.,`` said Khalilova. ``Why such injustice?``
Disgruntled by what they see as their being stonewalled by officials, the residents gathered outside one of the buildings and launched a hunger strike, joined by 15 people. ``We are ready to stand till the end,`` they said. ``We are not demanding anything extraordinary, just give us the same kind of property in the city center.``
Shortly thereafter, representatives of the mayor`s office and police officers arrived at the site. The protesters, including elderly women, were dispersed. One of the strikers slashed his veins in protest and was hospitalized in a critical condition.
The nearly six-month-long tensions over the demolition of residential buildings downtown Baku boiled into a mass protest last week.
Having grown wary of what residents of the properties say is indifference of city officials and construction contractors, most of the residents received compensations and moved. Some, however, have resorted to tough action. Having realized that their reasoning was failing to convince officials, they became desperate and decided Friday to launch a hunger strike to make their voices heard.
The buildings, located on the Fuzuli and Shamsi Badalbayli Streets, mostly one-storied and obsolete, are slated for demolition, and a new park is planned in the area. The residents are not content with the compensation being offered to them. The settlers are offered 1,500-2,000 manats per square meter of dwelling space. Dozens of families are refusing to vacate the premises, saying that the compensation being offered would not be sufficient to purchase the same type of property in the city center. Nonetheless, demolition of the houses followed, though tens of people still reside there. ``They won`t leave us alone even at night,`` says Nuriya Khalikova, one of the residents. ``All night long, workers were crashing the roof of our three-story building yesterday, on orders from officials, and were dumping garbage in the courtyard. I came out and asked them to stop the mess. But the workers were just grinning.``
``No one wants to talk to us, no one would hear us out,`` she added.
Nigar Khalilova, another resident, claims that officials are even reluctant to convene a commission to re-measure the space of her property.
``I have 67 square meters of dwelling space, but they are offering me a compensation for just 42 sq. m.,`` said Khalilova. ``Why such injustice?``
Disgruntled by what they see as their being stonewalled by officials, the residents gathered outside one of the buildings and launched a hunger strike, joined by 15 people. ``We are ready to stand till the end,`` they said. ``We are not demanding anything extraordinary, just give us the same kind of property in the city center.``
Shortly thereafter, representatives of the mayor`s office and police officers arrived at the site. The protesters, including elderly women, were dispersed. One of the strikers slashed his veins in protest and was hospitalized in a critical condition.
Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention.
Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis.
By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more.
Subscribe
You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper
Thank you!