Residents of Demolished Building Remain Unpaid

Participants in a press conference at the Media Center on Thursday spoke of ongoing lawlessness against the inhabitants and owners of a 16-storey building at Azadlig Avenue, 154. 

Fuad Abbasov, former resident and owner of three apartments said that so far he and his daughter have not received apartments or compensation for the lost housing. He was offered housing built by "Azinko", but he refused due to low quality. (This company demolished houses, and belongs to Kerem Hasanov, who is the brother of the head of the State Committee for Property.)

Abbasov told about the illegalities during the demolition of the house. No one has seen documents permitting the demolition. "First we were told that it was an oral order of the President, and then they said that there was an act of the Ministry of Emergency Situation (MES) on the accident risk, but MES itself denied it," said Abbasov.

Mugabil Karimov, co-owner of the restaurant "Gulnara", which was on the ground floor of the building, said he did not receive any compensation or other premises either.

In September 2011, the head of the State Property Committee, Yusif Gambarov came and said that all owners of objects on the ground floor of the building should leave. He reportedly promised that they would be allocated other premises, and the state has allocated 2 million manat for these purposes. "So far we have nothing. All my complaints remain unanswered," said Karimov.

Yasim Bashirov, owner of a pharmacy and grocery store on the ground floor in the building, confirmed official illegalities during the process of demolition. According to him, the state has allocated huge funds for the demolition of their homes and three five-storey buildings. 60,000 manat were spent on demolishing the 16-storey building, and about 50,000 manat was spent for demolition of three five-storey buildings. The owners of objects in those buildings did not receive compensation from the two million manat allocated for these purposes, and the funds are now in the account of "Azinko." What had happened to the remaining large amount (about 30 million manat) is unknown.

"When I met with Yusif Gambarov and asked him this question, he said that with this money the hotel “Jumeirah” was built for the president. The 16-storey building and three adjacent five-storey buildings were demolished in 2011. The reason stated for their demolition was that a state residence was built next to building, and it was visible from the upper floors of skyscraper. Two unfinished buildings were also demolished. -04С-