DEMONSTRATION IN BAKU AGAINST MANAT DEVALUATION; PROTESTERS DEMANDED AUTHORITIES TO COMPENSATE FOR FINANCIAL LOSSES
13:17 16/03/2015 >> SOCIETY
An Azerbaijani opposition rally was held at the city stadium of the
sport club Mehsul in Baku under police surveillance. The participants
demanded to compensate the population for their losses which had been
caused by manat devaluation. The main slogan of the demonstration
agreed upon with Baku City Hall was “No to looting and deceptions!”
The demonstrators interrupted the speakers, chanting “Freedom!” and
“Resign!” Caucasian Knot reports.
According to the article, Ali Karimli, the chairman of the Azerbaijani
Popular Front Party (APFP), during his speech called on the government
of the country to compensate the population for their losses which
had been caused by manat devaluation. Deputy chairman of APFP Fuad
Gahramanli spoke up for the immediate release of the Azerbaijani
political prisoners. In his turn, the head of the National Council
of Democratic Forces Jamil Hasanli criticized allocating funds for
hosting the European Games in Baku.
“The Heydar Aliyev Foundation covers the expenses of building parks
and establishing monuments in foreign countries, while seriously ill
children’s parents turn to the people in the social networks asking
for help to pay for their babies’ treatment,” Hasanli protested.
The BBC Russian Service also turned to the topic highlighting
that thousands of people took part in the demonstration organized
by the Azerbaijani opposition in Baku, and that it is one of the
largest demonstrations of the Azerbaijani opposition for the recent
years. The next one is appointed on 5 April. In its turn, the magazine
Korrespondent.net adds that “oil-and-gas rich Azerbaijan” faces
dramatic financial problems because of the decline of the oil prices.
The website of RFE/RL reminds that during the demonstration Jamil
Hasanli declared that his Facebook account had been hacked ahead
of the protest in an apparent attempt by authorities to prevent
him from calling on people to join the rally. RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani
Service highlights that the day before the rally the Press Council
of Azerbaijan informed the site Qafqazinfo that a monitoring of the
journalists carrying out their duties was to be held during the rally.
However, Ogtay Gulaliyev, the National Council representative, said
he was not aware of that.
Azerbaijani information agency Turan reports that 4-5 thousand people
took part in the rally in Baku. In its turn, the Main Police Department
in Baku stated that there were around 600 demonstrators in the rally.
According to the agency, Gezal Bayramli, the deputy chairman of
APFP and member of National Council, noted in her speech that the
current situation in Azerbaijan comes as a logical result of the
“inconsiderate, robbing policy” carried out by the authorities of the
country. The head of the National Council Jamil Hasanli condemned the
lack of economical strategy of the authorities noting that the policy
of the authorities in Azerbaijan has a “spontaneous and inconsiderate
character.” He said that one of the forms of corruption in Azerbaijan
is the tax authorities’ tactics of extortion, as they – apart from
the official taxes – take cash of 10-15 thousands from the businessmen
explaining that by the lack of money for the European Games.
Turan also writes that Rovshan Ahmedov, Karabakh war veteran and a
member of the National Council, spoke up at the meeting stressing
that despite the fact that the war refugees and veterans cannot get
compensation in Azerbaijan for already 20 years, the authorities of the
country are ready to invite and pay the expenses of the representatives
of Armenia in the European Games.