07:31, 18 March 2017

Azerbaijan residents complain about price rise on eve of Novruz holiday

Children are holding hats for the gifts on the Novruz-Bayram. Photo by Aziz Karimov for the "Caucasian Knot"

Nine consecutive days, March 18-26, have been announced days-off in Azerbaijan on the occasion of the Novruz-Bayram holiday. Residents of the country state a significant increase in foodstuff prices on the eve of the holiday, primarily on meat, butter, nuts and dried fruits.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that last year the Novruz-Bayram celebrations also lasted for nine days – on March 19-27.

The Novruz-Bayram is a holiday of spring, symbolizing the awakening of all living beings. It is believed that one’s well-being in the coming year depends on the way a person has welcomed the Novruz. Therefore, it is a custom to buy new things for the holiday: clothes, furniture, and others.

By the holiday, the authorities have organized agricultural fairs in Baku, where prices are 10-15% lower; however, the quality of foodstuffs is worse.

Togrul Djuvarly, an economic analyst of the “Turan” Agency, explains the rise in prices for consumer goods by the devaluation of the manat. According to his version, the demonopolization and creation of fair competition are the only ways to combat the rise in prices.

During the long holiday, many Baku residents prefer to go on vacation. Several years ago, trips to Paris, Rome, Milan, Istanbul and Prague were popular. However, in the past two or three years, residents of Azerbaijan prefer spending holidays in the homeland.

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

Author: Faik Medzhid

Source: CK correspondent