Forced evictions in Baku

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]

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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.
Main article: Politics 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

References
  1. 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. 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. Hugh Williamson (25 June 2012), Azerbaijan: Letter to the Council of Europe Monitoring Committee, Human Rights Watch, retrieved 6 August 2012
  6. Lada Evgrashina and Margarita Antidze (11 April 2012). "Azerbaijan aims to put up world's tallest building". Reuters. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  7. 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
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