Media Review - April 1, 2019

The level of trust between the state and citizens against the background of the fire in the Diglas shopping center, the problems of insurance in connection with the fire, and the danger of the reforms that started in the country are the topics of today's media.

The newspaper Azerbaijan writes about the attention of President Ilham Aliyev to the problems of citizens who suffered during the fire in the shopping center.

The article recalls the speech of the head of state at a meeting on March 28 in connection with the fire.

"The state should support these people. They lost their jobs, and some of them borrowed money," said Aliyev.

The victims were allocated 3 million manat from the Reserve Fund for damages.

The website Azadliq.info asks the question: why should a country with 400-billion oil profits have so many problems? The economist Gubad Ibadoglu recalls that Diglas LLC has a registered capital of 5 manat. This structure did not comply with fire safety regulations.

In the budget for 2019, the Reserve Fund amounted to 300 million manat. Of this money, 1% - 3 million manat was allocated for compensation to entrepreneurs. From the state budget also the debt of citizens for problem loans will be paid. However, the owners of the shopping center were left out of responsibility.

The reason is that both banks and shopping centers belong to the same ruling family. This is their pocket money, and the state budget is a treasury for them.

For 15 years, the authorities could not establish insurance relations, or adjust the registration system, despite the fact that total revenues to the country amounted to 400 billion dollars.

The website Yeni Sabah cites the opinion of the MP Vahid Ahmedov that those who made a huge fortune want to prevent the President"s reforms. Already 6 months have passed since serious political, economic, institutional reforms and reforms in the judicial-legal system started. The goal of reforms is to eliminate bribery and corruption, ensure transparency, and improve the living conditions of citizens. The MP believes that some forces in the country want to thwart the presidential reforms, because they have accumulated great wealth.

The website Modern.az writes that a fire in the Diglas shopping center showed that the insurance system in the country is not developed. The expert Ilkin Ibrahimov believes that the country has relevant legislation, and even the Bureau of Compulsory Insurance has been created.

People mostly insure vehicles because it was enforced; but in real estate this is not common, because, unlike car owners, no action is taken against property owners. In addition, insurance companies pay insurance money badly. People have been suing them for years to get the due money legally.