Forced evictions in Baku

Last updated

Since 2008, the government of Azerbaijan has been implementing a program of forced evictions in the capital city of Baku, confiscating and subsequently demolishing privately owned properties to make room for the development of modernized infrastructure. The evictions were first ordered by the city's municipal government as part of a massive reconstruction effort aimed at increasing the appeal of the downtown metropolis. [1] From 2011 onward, the number of housing complexes being forcibly vacated has increased substantially. [2]

Contents

Numerous development projects have begun in the aftermath of the housing demolitions, including new parking lots, several boutique stores, [3] boulevards, [3] skyscrapers, [4] a shopping center, [5] luxury housing, [5] and a Formula One race track. [6] There are also plans to build a 1,050 m (3,444 ft) housing complex, which would make it the world's tallest man-made structure upon completion. [6]

Baku city officials have stated that the compensation being offered to residents is fair, while human rights groups argue that residents have been pressured to leave without adequate compensation to buy similar dwellings elsewhere. [7] Independent observers estimate that several thousand people have been displaced as a result of the forced evictions. [7] [8] [9]

Background

Skyline of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. Panoramic Baku.jpg
Skyline of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan gained independence from the Soviet Union following its dissolution in 1991. Despite severe infrastructural damage resulting from the first Nagorno-Karabakh War and the post-Soviet transition phase, the country has managed to develop a robust and stable economy through revenues from petroleum exports. The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (abbreviated as "SOCAR") is the 68th largest organization in the world, valued at roughly $20 billion USD. Azerbaijan ranks 7th in the world on an aggregate list of countries by proven natural gas reserves, [10] as well as 19th on a similarly compiled list of nations by proven petroleum reserves. [11] In recent times, Azerbaijan has made efforts to focus on greater cultural and economic integration with the West, notably through hosting the 57th annual Eurovision contest in 2012.

Demolitions

According to a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report, authorities used various methods to expel people from their homes, including arbitrary arrests and detentions, [1] deprivation of basic necessities for occupants in targeted households, [12] intimidation, [13] and beginning the demolition process prior to the evacuation of inhabitants. [14] The report stated that authorities sometimes acted without any prior notice. [15]

Construction of new public facilities and attractions generally commenced shortly after demolition, with a new 25,000 square metre park nearing completion as of 1 August 2012. [16] The government offered to compensate the former residents of expropriated properties. HRW criticized the reimbursements as being inadequate for purchasing any new property in Baku. [1] Those who refused compensation were evicted and often became homeless. [1]

In the run-up to the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest, authorities evicted more residents to make room for the Baku Crystal Hall arena, where the event would subsequently be held. Zohrab Ismayil, who authored a report on forced evictions in Baku, said that 281 families were evicted to make room for construction, and that the government paid them compensation below the market rate on several occasions. [17] [18] The government stated that the evictions had no relevance to the contest, but were part of a larger seven-year reconstruction plan aimed at developing the downtown area of the city. [19]

Reactions

The evictions were condemned by several international human rights organizations, including Freedom House, [20] Human Rights Watch, [21] and Amnesty International. [22] As part of a resolution passed by the European Parliament on 24 May 2012, which condemned Azerbaijan's human rights abuses, the elected body also expressed alarm over the mass expulsion of civilians from their households for future development projects, including the Crystal Palace. [23] The evictions became a point of contention in Azerbaijan's successful bid to host the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest. [24]

On two occasions, authorities were accused of retaliating against activists and journalists who publicized the evictions. On 11 August 2011, the office of Azerbaijani human rights activist Leyla Yunus was bulldozed without warning, giving the occupants no time to salvage furniture or other personal belongings. All documents inside the building at the time of its demolition were destroyed. An Azeri MP denied that the demolition was connected with Yunus's activism. The European Union delegation to Baku stated that it "deplored" the destruction of her organization's office, describing her as "a regular partner of the international community". [25] The demolition came hours after The New York Times published an article detailing Yunus's advocacy against the forced evictions. [26] Later, on 18 April 2012, several Azeri journalists were severely beaten by SOCAR security forces, allegedly for covering the demolitions while they were in process. [27] This includes Idrak Abbasov, who was subsequently hospitalized in critical condition. [28]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eviction</span> Removal of a tenant from rental property by the landlord

Eviction is the removal of a tenant from rental property by the landlord. In some jurisdictions it may also involve the removal of persons from premises that were foreclosed by a mortgagee.

The State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan, largely known by its abbreviation SOCAR, is a fully state-owned national oil and gas company headquartered in Baku, Azerbaijan. The company produces oil and natural gas from onshore and offshore fields in the Azerbaijani segment of the Caspian Sea. It operates the country's only oil refinery, one gas processing plant and runs several oil and gas export pipelines throughout the country. It owns fuel filling station networks under the SOCAR brand in Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia, Ukraine, Romania, Switzerland, and Austria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human rights in Azerbaijan</span> Overview of human rights in Azerbaijan

International organizations have frequently alleged that Azerbaijan has violated human rights standards established in international law.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maraga massacre</span> Mass murder of Armenian civilians

The Maraga massacre was the mass murder of Armenian civilians in the village of Maraga (Maragha) by Azerbaijani troops, which had captured the village on April 10, 1992, in the course of the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. The villagers, including men, women, children and elderly, were killed indiscriminately and deliberately, their houses were pillaged and burnt; the village was destroyed. Amnesty International reports that over 100 women, children and elderly were tortured and killed and a further 53 were taken hostage, 19 of whom were never returned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Azerbaijan</span>

LGBT people in Azerbaijan face significant challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Same-sex sexual activity has been legal in Azerbaijan since 1 September 2000. Nonetheless, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity are not banned in the country and same-sex marriage is not recognized.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eynulla Fatullayev</span> Azerbaijani journalist

Eynulla Emin oglu Fatullayev is an Azerbaijani journalist and editor-in-chief of the independent Russian-language weekly Realny Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani-language daily Gündəlik Azərbaycan newspapers. He was imprisoned for four years in Azerbaijan for his criticism of government's policies and for his comments on the Khojaly massacre. His sentence was condemned by Reporters Without Borders, International PEN, and the Committee to Protect Journalists, and Amnesty International named him a prisoner of conscience and 2011 "priority case."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eurovision Song Contest 2012</span> International song competition

The Eurovision Song Contest 2012 was the 57th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, following the country's victory at the 2011 contest with the song "Running Scared" by Ell and Nikki. It was the first time Azerbaijan hosted the contest – only four years after the country made its debut. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster İctimai Television (İTV), the contest was held at the Baku Crystal Hall, and consisted of two semi-finals on 22 and 24 May, and a final on 26 May 2012. The three live shows were presented by Azerbaijani television presenter Leyla Aliyeva, newsreader Nargiz Birk-Petersen and singer Eldar Gasimov, the latter of whom was one of the previous edition's winners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Flag Square</span> Large city square in Baku, Azerbaijan

The National Flag Square is a large city square off Neftchiler Avenue in Bayil, Baku, Azerbaijan. The National Flag Square covers 60 hectares overall. The area of the upper part is 3 hectares. The square features the state symbols of Azerbaijan—the coat of arms and the anthem—and a map of the country.

Jabbar Savalan is an Azerbaijani blogger and political activist. On 4 May 2011, he was sentenced to two and half years in prison on charges of dealing drugs. The Azerbaijani government defended the ruling, but the European parliament and several human rights groups such as Amnesty International alleged the charges were fabricated and part of a pattern of framing government dissidents to silence them. He received a presidential pardon on 26 December 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baku Crystal Hall</span> Indoor arena in Baku, Azerbaijan

Baku Crystal Hall is an indoor arena in Baku, Azerbaijan. It is located on the coast of Baku near National Flag Square. Construction of the arena began in August 2011 and finished in April 2012—in time for it to host its first major event, the Eurovision Song Contest 2012.

Forced eviction in the People's Republic of China refers to the practice of involuntary land requisitions from the citizenry, typically in order to make room for development projects. In some instances, government authorities work with private developers to seize land from villagers, with compensation below the market price. In many cases, they are also offered alternative housing instead of or on top of monetary compensation. Forced evictions are particularly common in rural areas, and are a major source of unrest and public protest. By some estimates, up to 65 percent of the 180,000 annual mass conflicts in China stem from grievances over forced evictions. Some citizens who resist or protest the evictions have reportedly been subjected to harassment, beatings, or detention.

Idrak Abbasov is an Azerbaijani journalist who works for the newspaper Zerkalo, one of Azerbaijan's few newspapers not controlled by the government of President Ilham Aliyev. The Guardian described him as one of the nation's "leading journalists". He lives in Sulutəpə, a settlement in Baku, the nation's capital. Known for his reporting on forced evictions in Baku, Abbasov was badly beaten in 2012, allegedly by SOCAR security personnel.

Most Azerbaijanis receive their information from mainstream television, which is unswervingly pro-government and under strict government control. According to a 2012 report of the NGO "Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS)" Azerbaijani citizens are unable to access objective and reliable news on human rights issues relevant to Azerbaijan and the population is under-informed about matters of public interest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leyla Yunus</span> Azerbaijani activist (born 1955)

Leyla Islam qizi Yunusova, better known as Leyla Yunus, is an Azerbaijani human rights activist who serves as the director of Institute of Peace and Democracy, a human rights organisation. She is particularly known for her work helping citizens affected by forced evictions in Baku, on whose behalf she organized several small protests. In July 2014, the Azerbaijani authorities jailed Yunus under allegations of fraud and tax evasion, which are charges widely regarded as dubious. After being sentenced to 8.5 years in jail on 13 August 2015, Leyla Yunus was released on grounds of her deteriorating health on 9 December 2015, with a court converting her sentence into a suspended one.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rasul Jafarov</span> Azerbaijani lawyer and activist

Rasul Jafarov is a lawyer and prominent human rights defender in Azerbaijan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arif Yunusov</span> Azerbaijani human rights activist

Arif Seyfulla oghlu Yunusov, also known as Arif Yunus, is an Azerbaijani author, historian, and human rights activist. He is the head of the Department of Conflict and Migration of the Institute of Peace and Democracy. Arif Yunusov along with his wife Leyla are supporters of a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. On 28 April 2014, Arif Yunusov and his wife Leyla were jailed on charges of extortion and treason for allegedly spying for Armenia. After being detained, Arif Yunusov was sentenced to 7 years in jail; his wife, Leyla Yunus, was sentenced to 8.5 years in jail. Their sentences were suspended 15 months later and the couple was allowed to leave for the Netherlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rauf Mirgadirov</span> Azerbaijani journalist

Rauf Habibulla oghlu Mirgadirov is an Azerbaijani columnist and journalist. He has worked for the Baku based Russian-language newspaper Zerkalo. A believer in "citizen diplomacy" between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Mirgadirov was arrested for allegedly spying for Armenia and has been detained since April 2014. In December 2015, he was found guilty and sentenced to six years of prison. Following an appeal of his case, the ruling was upheld in March 2016, but Mirgadirov was released on suspended sentence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palestinian displacement in East Jerusalem</span> East Jerusalem demographic engineering

Palestinian displacement in East Jerusalem is the transfer of Palestinian residents from the city due to Israeli policies aimed at an Israeli-Jewish demographic majority. Many Palestinian families in East Jerusalem have been affected by "forced relocation processes or been involved in lengthy legal procedures to revoke an eviction order." According to OCHA, between a third to a half of East Jerusalem's houses do not have permits, potentially placing over 100,000 Palestinian residents of the city at risk of forced displacement and forcible transfer as a result of demolitions.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Azerbaijan: Halt Illegal House Demolitions, Forced Evictions, Human Rights Watch, 13 June 2011, retrieved 4 August 2012
  2. ↑ Amanda Erickson (10 August 2011), "Middle-Class Families Face Evictions in Azerbaijan", The New York Times, retrieved 5 August 2012
  3. 1 2 Damien McGuinness (22 December 2011). "'Evicted in Baku to make way for Eurovision'". The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  4. ↑ "Real Estate & Construction: a Skyline is Born" (PDF). American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Azerbaijan. Spring 2010. p. 10. ISBN   1-56432-868-6 . Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  5. 1 2 Hugh Williamson (25 June 2012), Azerbaijan: Letter to the Council of Europe Monitoring Committee, Human Rights Watch, retrieved 6 August 2012
  6. 1 2 Lada Evgrashina and Margarita Antidze (11 April 2012). "Azerbaijan aims to put up world's tallest building". Reuters . Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  7. 1 2 Evictions tarnish Azerbaijan’s Eurovision glitz, Al Arabiya, 1 February 2012, retrieved 6 August 2012
  8. ↑ Azerbaijan: Stop Forced Evictions and Demolitions, Nobel Women's Initiative, 30 August 2011, retrieved 6 August 2012
  9. ↑ Jerome Taylor, Richard Hall (19 March 2012), "Eurovision: light entertainment in a dark place", The Independent, retrieved 6 August 2012
  10. ↑ Rank Order - Natural gas - proved reserves Archived March 9, 2013, at the Wayback Machine , accessed in August 2012
  11. ↑ Rank Order - Oil - proved reserves Archived 2012-10-20 at the Wayback Machine , accessed in August 2012
  12. ↑ Jane Buchanan (29 February 2012), 'They Took Everything from Me' - Forced Evictions, Unlawful Expropriations, and House Demolitions in Azerbaijan's Capital (PDF), Human Rights Watch, p. 51, ISBN   1-56432-868-6 , retrieved 4 August 2012
  13. ↑ Jane Buchanan (29 February 2012), 'They Took Everything from Me' - Forced Evictions, Unlawful Expropriations, and House Demolitions in Azerbaijan's Capital (PDF), Human Rights Watch, p. 56, ISBN   1-56432-868-6 , retrieved 6 August 2012
  14. ↑ Jane Buchanan (29 February 2012). "'They Took Everything from Me' - Forced Evictions, Unlawful Expropriations, and House Demolitions in Azerbaijan's Capital" (PDF). Human Rights Watch. p. 36. ISBN   1-56432-868-6 . Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  15. ↑ Jane Buchanan (29 February 2012). ""They Took Everything from Me" - Forced Evictions, Unlawful Expropriations, and House Demolitions in Azerbaijan's Capital" (PDF). Human Rights Watch. p. 60. ISBN   1-56432-868-6 . Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  16. ↑ Azerbaijani President inspects new park in Baku, Trend, 1 August 2012, retrieved 5 August 2012
  17. ↑ Shaun Walker (12 May 2012). "Singing in Azerbaijan – but not for democracy". The Independent. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  18. ↑ Judy Dempsey (27 April 2012), "Where a Glitzy Pop Contest Takes Priority Over Rights", The New York Times, retrieved 6 August 2012
  19. ↑ "Evictions in Azerbaijan 'similar to London Olympics'". BBC News. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  20. ↑ Freedom in the World 2012 - Azerbaijan, Freedom House, 18 June 2012, retrieved 5 August 2012
  21. ↑ World Report 2012: Azerbaijan, Human Rights Watch, 22 January 2012, retrieved 6 August 2012
  22. ↑ Amnesty International Annual Report 2012 - Azerbaijan, Amnesty International, 24 May 2012, retrieved 6 August 2012
  23. ↑ Human rights: Azerbaijan and return of North Korean refugees, European Parliament, 24 May 2012, retrieved 5 August 2012
  24. ↑ Tracy McVeigh (11 March 2012). "Human rights abuses spark demands to boycott Eurovision in Azerbaijan". The Observer . Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  25. ↑ Ellen Barry (11 August 2011), "Offices of Activist Bulldozed in Azerbaijan", The New York Times, retrieved 6 August 2012
  26. ↑ Amanda Erickson (10 August 2011), "Middle-Class Families Face Evictions in Azerbaijan", The New York Times, retrieved 6 August 2012
  27. ↑ Several reporters assaulted, one hospitalized in Baku, Committee to Protect Journalists, 18 April 2012, retrieved 5 August 2012
  28. ↑ Miriam Elder (18 April 2012), "Azerbaijani journalist attacked by oil company security", The Guardian, retrieved 5 August 2012
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.