Dispersal of the protest action in "Bina" shopping center is a measure of intimidation

Long-lasting economic injustice led to a social explosion on January 19 in the "Bina", shopping center said  the lawyer  of the  protesters at a press conference in the media center.

The lawyer said that the reason for the protest was numerous illegal fees, which are paid by employers in the "Bina".

According to the lawyer, protests similar to actions in "Bina", but of  more localized  character,  had happened more than 10 times in recent years.  In fact the  entrepreneurs actually bought their stores when "Bina" was in a previous location near the airport. However, buy-and-sale documents have not been issued. When the original market was demolished, owners were promised free shops at the new location. However, it has not been done, and traders again bought shops.

The purchase was framed as a long-term lease. However, tenants are made to pay taxes for the property as if they were owners, and at the same time, made to pay rent. Tenants pay a monthly rent of 1500-3000 manat

In summer, cash registers were installed, but it was done in violation of legal procedures and traders did not use them. Recently traders were fined for this, and this was the last straw.

The use of force against protesters by the Rapid Response Regiment  is regarded as an order to disperse the protesters at the highest level, said  the human rights defender, Vidadi Iskenderli. In his view, the brutal dispersal of the action was intimidation. The confrontation was provoked by the police which intervened in a peaceful rally, he said.

According to him, more than 100 people were detained, and they have been arrested under the Articles 221.3 (hooliganism with the application of a weapon or other object used as a weapon) and 315.2 (resistance to authority with force, posing a threat to health and life.)

Lawyers and human rights activists regard the arrests as unreasonable, and consider  them an intimidation of other entrepreneurs  in "Bina".

On the other hand, they warned that the arrests could cause a new wave of protests among entrepreneurs. -05C-