Desperate Tovuz Resident Rejects Azerbaijani Citizenship

Fatima Mammadova, a resident of the village of Dondar Gushchu in Tovuz region, rejected her Azerbaijan citizenship, in protest against violation of her property rights and the arbitrariness of the officials and the judiciary.  She stated this at a press conference in Media Center.

According to Mammadova, through an auction in 2009 she bought 0.7 hectares of land from rural lands of the State Fund. Despite the fact that state duty was only 425 manat, she had to pay 2,400 manat for 0.7 hectares.  

However, in 2009, the then head of the rural municipality left his post, forged documents, and Mammadova did not receive legal title for the land she bought. The head sold her land to a neighbor Mairu Jafarov, who had already owned 0.8 hectares. The attempts of the women to restore her rights in courts were futile. Tovuz regional court dismissed her claim, and Ganja Appeal and the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan have declined to reverse the decision of the lower court.

Mammadova has appealed to the Plenum of the Supreme Court. However, she doubts that the court will decide in her favor, because, as she believes, the courts considered not a falsified document, but a certificate of legal rights of Jafarov on previously bought 0.8 hectares.

Mammadova said that instead she was offered flood-prone land on the banks of a canal. "This land is dangerous to use, I do not know how to live, and who to contact for help. In this country there is no court, no justice," said Mammadova.

She said that sent a telegram to the President of the country where she renounced her Azerbaijani citizenship. –04C06--