In Azerbaijan, tenants of "Kruschov-time" houses subject to demolition demand monetary compensation

The inhabitants of three five-storey apartment blocks located on the Geidar Aliev Avenue in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, were offered to leave their flats before September 1 and move to new flats in the Narimanov District of the capital.

"Executive officials told us that we should leave our apartments and move into new houses near the metro station "Narimanov". Nobody explains the reason of our eviction, but we know that it is connected with Geidar Aliev Centre that is built nearby," said one of the tenants who live in one of such blocks at 73 Geidar Aliev Avenue in his conversation with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. However, he refused to give his name for the press.

According to his story, the tenants are not against resettlement, but the compensation should be fair. "The market price of a square meter in our houses is at least 1500 US dollars. But we are offered the flats where the price is two times cheaper. Besides, the repair in these apartments is of poor quality," said the tenant.

At the same time the tenants, according to his story, do not believe that protest actions or suits can bring any result. "Bureaucrats-performers are guilty. All the hope is on interference of the country leaders and fair settlement of the problem," he said.

The Baku Mayoralty refused to give any comments, having advised to address the "district authorities". The executive body of the Narimanov District, in the territory of which the above buildings are situated, also refrained from official comments, having noted only that "the houses are demolished in the interests of the state."

However, one of the employees of the district administration said in exchange for preservation of his anonymity that the houses are indeed demolished to expand the territory for building the Geidar Aliev Centre.

"In total, 244 families live in these 5-storey houses. Instead of tiny apartments in old "Kruschov-time" houses, the state gives them spacious apartments in new houses, and in the same Narimanov District. Others could only dream of it. 200 families have already agreed to move in and even received their housing orders," said the correspondent's source.