Construction company “Fedek” does what it wants, but the executive power of Nasimi district turns a blind eye to it

Baku/12.08.22/Turan: In 2017,  after received permission from the Nasimi Executive Power, the “Fedek” construction company demolished an architectural residential building in Baku at Alres St. Azadlyg, 80. The house was built in 1935 according to the project of a prominent Soviet architect Konstantin Senchikhin, could decorate Baku for a long time, was called the "House of Specialists" by the people. Nearby was the "House of Actors".

The best young specialists from various fields of science were settled in the "House of Specialists" - professor Islam Yusifov, who worked for many years as vice-rector of the Polytechnic Institute, architect Enver Azimzade, Senchikhin, professors Aydin Imamalieva, Nureddin Rzayev, Gulzar Imamalieva, Shamil Guliyev, Ahmed Hajiyev, doctors Emin Efendiyev and others.

Instead of preserving this building, the city authorities put the historical building on the list of those doomed for demolition under the Baku renovation project. The essence of this project is the destruction of strong and high-quality residential buildings so that private companies build profitable multi-storey faceless buildings on this site, earning a lot of money. Residents were promised apartments in new buildings, and many contracts were signed with citizens. Since then, dozens of families have been left without an apartment, and without the promised payment for temporary rental housing while a new one is being built.

Nigar Maxwell, a historian who lived in a house at 80 Azadlyg, told Turan that recalcitrant tenants were kicked out of their apartments without even asking for their consent. They were given a few weeks to collect. Construction company “Fedek” is registered in the Nakhichevan village of Kangarli with a charter balance of 10 manats.

“For six whole years we have been fighting like a fish on ice, trying not to move into our apartments, because they simply do not exist, but at least to find out the fate of the house,” writes N. Maxwell.

A house under construction for years at Azadlig 80

On July 24, the media published an appeal by the director, People's Artist of Azerbaijan, professor at the Gazi University in Ankara, Aflatun Nematzade, to President Ilham Aliyev with a request to help decide the fate of the house. After this publication, the president issued a decree to consider the Nematzade case, but in general, the fate of the house itself remained in question. True, the somewhat frightened head of the executive branch, Asif Askerov, met with the residents of the house. The residents were promised to satisfy all demands, as well as to pay the rent arrears, with the preservation of the old bills of sale, the only document indicating our right to own our property. Today is August 2022 on the calendar. Almost six years have passed since our eviction. During this time, some tenants left this world without waiting for moving into their new apartments,” N.Maxwell said. 

Turan called the Executive Power of the Nasimi district of Baku, where they advised them to contact the construction company, saying that the builders signed contracts with the residents, and they should answer.

“Fedek's” manager Ramil Gasimov flatly denied N.Maxwell's allegations, telling Turan that the construction of the house continues successfully and will be completed in a year. According to R. Gasimov, all residents of the destroyed building receive contractual payments on time, and “2-3 trouble-makers” complain to the press.

However, there is reason to believe the residents. In January 2021, Turan reported on the violence of “Fedek” company workers who destroyed the home property of Hamid Efendiyev, a resident of the house at 80 Azadlyg Street. On May 16, 2018, they, taking advantage of the absence of the owners' house, destroyed the garage and Efendiyev's property located in it. He refused to give his four-room apartment with a basement to this company, which intended to destroy the entire building in order to build a high-rise building there.

Then the neighboring apartments and the attic of the building were destroyed, as well as all the floors above Efendiyev's apartment, located on the ground floor. The builders stole 14 art paintings belonging to Efendiyev. He saw one painting in the “Fedek” office and returned it through the efforts of the police.

On March 16 (03), 2020, the Baku Court of Appeal considered the complaint of the plaintiff Hamid Efendiyev against the construction company and upheld the decision of the court of first instance, according to which “Fedek” is obliged to compensate for material damage in the amount of 37.5 thousand manats (the plaintiff requested 80 thousand manats).

The court's decision was not implemented, and Efendiyev's numerous appeals to the Nasimi court told him that the decision of the Court of Appeal had been lost, and the person responsible for the execution of the decision was unknown. On December 25, 2020, the owner of the construction company “Nijat” openly told the residents that until they give the apartment to “Fedek”, they will not be able to go there.

The “Fedek” company does whatever it wants in Baku and is not afraid of the court. Nevertheless, the appeal of citizens to the court remains the only constitutional way to protect their rights. Turan Agency advise the residents of the house to use this right.