Residents of Azerbaijani Liman protest against rising prices

The protest action was attended by more than 100 residents of the Azerbaijani town of Liman, who then dispersed after speaking to officials.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in December 2015 after a sharp devaluation of the national currency, the manat, Azerbaijan saw an increase in prices on foodstuffs and other goods. On January 10, the president urged government structures to combat speculations and overpricing.

The protest action in Liman, located on the Caspian Sea shore, 12 kilometres to the north of the district centre Lankaran, started today around noon local time.

The protesters blocked the Baku-Astara highway, "causing a stop of traffic stop in both directions," said Iman Aliev, an activist of the "Musavat" Party.

"After the devaluation of the manat by 50 percent, prices of goods, including foodstuffs, scaled up sharply. People demanded to stop the artificial price hiking," said Aliev, adding that the protesters also complained about unemployment.

Recently, the town has seen "worsened criminal situation," the activist noted.

Policemen and district officials came to the venue of the protest. After the officials agreed to listen to residents' demands in the administration of Lankaran, the protesters unblocked the highway.

According to the experts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot", the sharp deterioration of the economic situation against the fall of oil prices and devaluation of the manat was the main outcome of years 2015 in Azerbaijan.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.