Press Review 08/27/2016

The political course of the country, the attitude of public figures to the arrest of Faig Amirov, the housing problem of citizens, and the prices for tourist facilities are the themes of today's media.

The official newspaper Azerbaijan writes about the independent political course of the country and talks about the progress made. The author notes that this course was laid by the former President Heydar Aliyev and continued by President Ilham Aliyev. The article lists all the significant events in Azerbaijan for the 13-year rule of President Ilham Aliyev, including major competitions. It emphasizes the stability against the background of events in the Middle East.

Azadlig has published an article about the arrest of the financial director of the newspaper Azadlig Faig Amirov on charges of connection with the Gulen network.

The head of the Journalists' Union, Elchin Shikhly, opposes the negative impact of the events taking place in Turkey on Azerbaijan and the accusations against Amirov, who is distant from religion.

The lawyer Eyub Kerim links Amirov’s arrest with political aspects rather than legal ones. The lawyer Asabali Mustafayev calls the charges against Amirov "ridiculous." It's clear that he was arrested for his political activities.

Echo has published an article on the tax on empty housing. In France, there is a tax on empty housing in cities with a population of over 50 thousand people. An apartment can only be empty for a year without a tax burden. In the second year, it is taxed at 12.5%, and the third year – at 25% of the rental income. If the owner is a company, the stakes are higher. So the owner of abandoned housing is economically forced to lease it out, which increases the supply, reduces the rent and makes it more accessible.

It is possible that such an experience would be useful to Azerbaijan, where there are thousands of square meters of vacant housing belonging to wealthy citizens. According to the General Director of MBA Consulting, Nusrat Ibrahimov, vacant housing tax is an experience, which is used in many countries around the world, and sooner or later we will also arrive at the same.

Bizim Yol has published an article that compares the prices of tourism in Azerbaijan with those in the neighbor countries. According to the author, a trip to Spain is cheaper than a holiday on the shore of the Caspian Sea. As for the services, they leave much to be desired. The economist Nazim Mammadov says the infrastructure and service sector in Azerbaijan is not attractive. Therefore, over a million of people from Azerbaijan go to Georgia on vacation every year.