Karabakh War invalid made self-immolation in central Baku to protest against confiscation of his cafe

On December 25, the 42-year-old Zaur Gasanov, a Category II invalid of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and a father of five children, committed self-immolation in central Baku opposite the building of the Azerbaijani Trade Unions Confederation. In this way he expressed his protest against confiscation of his cafe. Policemen managed to extinguish the fire. Zaur Gasanov was hospitalized in grave condition, said his father.

According to Gasan Gasanov, the father of the war veteran, in 1995, his son opened a small cafe "Ailevi" in the Baku settlement Bibi-Eibat on the seashore; this cafe was the only source of income for his family, consisting of seven persons.

"However, a few years ago, the leadership of the trade unions demanded to close the cafe, claiming that this is their territory. They sued Zaur; and the court ruled in favour of trade unions... And recently, 20 policemen brought workers and demolished the café," said the father.

He noted that other cafes and restaurants situated close to the Zaur's cafe remain intact.

According to Gasan Gasanov, his son wrote complaints to President of Azerbaijan, the head of the MIA and the General Public Prosecutor, but with no result.