In Baku, woman evicted from her flat in central city after speaking at oppositional rally

Today, Shirinbadji Rzaeva and members of her family were evicted from their apartment in Baku. This happened after she expressed yesterday, on April 22, her strong criticism at the oppositional rally against the leadership of Azerbaijan and the Baku Mayoralty for massive violations of citizens' property rights.

Shirinbadji Rzaeva, 58, and the family of her son Alimukhtar Rzaev were the last remaining tenants not only at No. 211 in Mirza Aga Aliev Street, but in the whole odd side of the street, which is demolished, as the authorities assert, in order to build the Winter Boulevard.

On April 22, Baku hosted a protest action with demand of democratic reforms, which was coordinated with the city authorities. The posters in hands of protesters read: "Freedom to political prisoners!", "Freedom of assembly!" "We want education without corruption!", "Return our Soviet-time deposits one to one!", "Property is untouchable!" and "Stop repressions!"

At the rally, Ms Rzaeva said that for many months she had been pressed by the authorities who forced her to sell her flat. She was not going to move out, despite the pressure and threats of the Mayoralty employees.

Today, after the woman and her family were moved out into the street, workers began loading their belongings onto the truck. Their actions were commanded by Zulfali Ismailov, a responsible officer of the Executive Power of Baku. He told reporters that "agreement was achieved with the tenants, and their belongings were transported to the address they had indicated."

In her turn, Rzaeva said that she gave no consent to sale of her apartment, treated the actions of the city authorities as a violation of property rights and announced her intention to use all the means provided by law for recovery of her rights.

After the eviction of the tenants, workers began disconnecting the house from utilities – gas, electricity and water – for the subsequent demolition of the building.