Press Review 23.04.2016

The economic life of the country, criticism of law enforcement, cessation of the issuance of loans to pensioners  are the leading topics of today's press.

The official newspaper "Azerbaijan" writes about economic crisis in the world and in Azerbaijan. In comparison with other countries, in Azerbaijan the situation is not so severe, the newspaper writes, arguing that statistical data of the first quarter of 2016 show some progress and the creation of new jobs. These are  positive steps, writes  the newspaper.

"Azadlyg" together with experts discussed the situation in places of detention.  Currently there are  24 thousand prisoners in the country's prisons. According to official statistics, the number of crimes decreased; then why is  the  number of prisoners growing?

Lawyer Bakhishov Muzaffar believes that the current Criminal Code is not perfect and is a copy of the Criminal Code of Russia.  There are a lot of Articles, according to which people are deprived of freedom, although there are other methods of punishment, but for some reason are rarely used.

According to the number of crimes Azerbaijan ranks  4^th in Europe, what completely refutes the statements of law enforcement agencies  on crime rate reduction. The expert also believes that courts are like real markets,  where  one can  give a bribe and condemn any man to imprisonment.

"New Times" writes that SOCAR  is inflating bureaucracy. The criticism of the method of work  under the crisis  in the country has exacerbated the fact that Rovnag Abdullayev appointed  some Samir Karimovas as his advisor, and created new departments in which job  he gives job to his numerous relatives.

The implementation of 300 projects requires a large budget; however Rovnag Abdullayev does not  know the oil industry and gives job to people who are from  this sphere, and  fires thousands of oil industry workers.

Mirvari Gahramanli, the head of the Committee to Protect the Rights of Petroleum Workers, confirms this, noting that SOCAR hires  people by a temporary contract, that is contrary to labor law.

"Bizim Yol" criticized the recommendation  given to banks by the Control Chamber Financial Market - not to give loans to pensioners. The expert Akram Hasanov believes  that the recommendation is only temporary, since the Chamber  has not been  fully formed, the process of Acceptance with the Central Bank is ongoing. However, there  should not be problems with the issuance of loans to pensioners, whose pension ranges between 600-1000 AZN. The expert believes this decision of the House is absurd.

Another expert Gubad Ibadoglu believes that the reason for the decision is in insolvency pensioners. However, this is a violation of human rights, and  intervention  in the  activities of commercial structures.