Press Review 01 February 2018

The development of the economy during the period of Ilham Aliyev's rule, the lack of transparency in the expenses and incomes of Baku, and the reduction of the salary of music teachers are the leading topics of today's press.

The newspaper Azerbaijan writes that the last 14 years are an important period in the history of development of Azerbaijan. A member of the Political Council of the ruling party Vugar Rahimzadeh comments on the matter. According to him, successful tendencies of development and reforms laid by Heydar Aliyev were continued by Ilham Aliyev during his reign. Further, he gives statistics on various areas of the economy and investments.

The newspaper Echo published an article entitled Baku's Annual Income: What Is Hidden from Public. The city authorities are not particularly aware of data on the capital's revenues, although Baku has sources of income. The amount of Baku's annual income is a mystery covered in gloom, since the Executive Power of the capital carefully conceals these data from the public. Nevertheless, the amount of this income is tens of millions. Last year 160 million manat was allocated for the needs of the capital.

In addition, the Executive branch itself earns on the services provided. For example, we are talking about paid parking, the revenues from which come to the Baku Executive Power. Also, revenues come from selling or renting land. In all developed countries of the world, city incomes and expenses are transparent, and any resident of the city can visit the website of the city administration or the city executive and find out everything that interests him on the financial statements of city authorities. We have a strict taboo on this topic, the author writes.

The website Bizimyol.info writes that in music schools teachers are half-cut in salary. Illegal salary cuts take place in music schools, which are subordinated to the Baku Tourism and Culture Department. Teachers themselves shared this in their statuses.