Ilham Aliyev urged officials to be modest.

President Ilham Aliyev urged his officials to be humble, respectful of citizens.

"All the citizens of Azerbaijan should be respected and the government should properly deal with them, not threaten, not torture them," said Aliyev, recognizing the existence of such facts.

"When appointing heads of executive power, I put before them the following: development, creativity, modesty and service to others. In some cases, officials look at people from the top down, contemptuous of them, insulting them, and behaving arrogantly. All these facts should be removed," warned Aliyev.

According to him, in some cases, officials do not behave modestly.

"They make pompous celebrations, weddings, anniversaries. Is it appropriate for a government official?" said Aliyev.

Then he gave himself as an example, noting that he spent his 50th birthday in the Agjabedi region together with displaced persons.

"Pompous weddings, birthday anniversaries, expensive gifts - remove it all. Those, who I mean, know who they are. This applies to all leaders, both local and central authorities," said Aliyev.

However, from the words of the President it is not clear whether his comments regard pompous celebrations and luxurious presentations arranged by his family and relatives in Azerbaijan and abroad. -06D-