The difference in state fees for graves is due not to religious discrimination

The traditional reason for the discontent of the Baku citizens is the high cost of the funeral procedure - not only the cost of funeral events with abundant treats, but also the "prices of the cemetery place." In Baku, the directorates of cemeteries demand for each grave several hundred manats, depending on the location of the cemeteries. The media reported on "elite places" on Chemberecken cemetery in Baku for 10,000 manat. But, there is no need to make an unpleasant conversation, because citizens are only obliged to pay the state fee.

Turan News Agency was interested in the procedure of burial of Sabir Hasanov, the chief engineer of the Trust for Civil Service to Population. He claims that the deceased's relatives pay only state fee of 63 manat for Muslim graves and 79 manats for non-Muslim graves for a place in the Baku cemetery. The inter-confessional difference, surprising at first glance, Hasanov explained by the size of Muslim and Christian graves and the custom of Christians to bury the dead in coffins. "We issue coffins to the relatives of the deceased, coffins are made at the Trust enterprise. Since Christians are buried in coffins, it is necessary to dig a grave larger than that of Muslims - 1.2-1.5 m in width and 2.5 in length. The grave for Muslims is dug out by one or two meters," Hasanov explained.

It is important to know that the state duty is applied for digging a grave, and the land is given out to citizens for free. That is, by digging up the grave themselves, relatives may not pay the state fee.

Building materials for the arrangement of graves and the area around it are bought by citizens at their own expense or purchased at the Trust at market value.

There are 32 cemeteries in Baku belonging to the Trust. The rest belong to municipalities, only about 100 cemeteries. In the Balajari settlement, there are three cemeteries. The Yasamal cemetery is closed to burials except when relatives want to bury the deceased next to the grave (if there is free space) or, as is rare, in an already existing old grave. According to the regulations, each grave has 5 square meters of land around. In addition, you can fence another five square meters for the spouse.

But there are many vacant places in the cemeteries in Hovsan, Buzovna, Zabrat, Baladjary and other Baku settlements, Hasanov noted.

This is the procedure for applying for a place for the deceased: citizens should appeal to the director of a particular cemetery, present him a medical certificate of the death of a person. Without this document, the burial is impossible. Citizens are given a free place, pay the state duty and additional services, and if they wish, make a burial," the chief engineer added.

Asked about the bribes extorted by the cemetery directorates, Hasanov objected, saying that in addition to state duties and legal fees for services and building materials, any other payments are a violation of the law. In case of extortion, he proposed to address complaints to the Trust's "Hot Line" at the number 012 510-83-08.