Azernews.Az

The Azerbaijani government has dismissed media reports about demolition of buildings and forcible eviction of residents from the neighborhood of the capital Baku where the Eurovision song contest will be held in May.

"Not a single building or facility has been demolished, and no resettlement was carried out over the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest 2012," Presidential Administration official Ali Hasanov told Trend news agency on Monday.

Some foreign media reports, as well as Human Rights Watch (HRW), have claimed citizens’ property rights in Baku are being violated ahead of the song contest.

Hasanov said the ongoing demolition of buildings, upgrade of infrastructure, projects on road construction and laying gas and water supply lines are being carried out in compliance with the master plan of Baku and in accord with the law. The work is being done under predetermined routes, while paying compensation to people whose property is located along these routes, he said.

"It has nothing to do with Eurovision Song Contest 2012 and beautification of the contest venue," he added.

Hasanov condemned the attempts to politicize the event.

"Some circles want to put pressure on the Azerbaijani state policy in the energy sector and in other spheres, and use their ambitions as a tool of pressure. We unequivocally condemn this," Hasanov said.

The 57th Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Baku Crystal Hall, which is under construction near the National Flag Square. The facility has 23,000 seats, and another 16,000 viewers will be able to watch the semifinals and the final on large monitors.

Tickets will go on sale on February 28, according to the contest’s website.

The Eurovision 2012 semi-finals will be held on May 22 and 24, and the final on May 26.

Azerbaijan won the right to host the song contest after the victory of Eldar Gasimov and Nigar Jamal (Ell/Nikki) at Eurovision 2011 in Dusseldorf, Germany.