New mass arrests in Azerbaijan: people held protest against the destructions

Criminal investigation has been launched into the incident in Sulutepe settlement of Baku. Azerbaijani Press Agency informs about this.

The investigative department of the district police office has launched criminal investigation into the fact on Criminal Code article № 221.2.1 (hooliganism committed by group of persons or repeatedly) due to the incident between residents of the settlement and workers of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) during removal of the illegal buildings in Sulutepe settlement of Baku. 

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, during removal of the illegal buildings in Sulutepe settlement of Baku on April 18 by the workers of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), 200-250 residents of the settlement beat and injured the employees of the company Fegan Yahya, Huseyn Azami, Yalchin Mammadov, Rashad gadimov, Ilham Shahverdiyev, Musa Abuzerov and Agshin Piriyev. Local residents Idrak Abbasov and Jamal Aliyev were also injured. Abbasov and Aliyev were taken to the hospital and their condition is satisfactory.

Then the residents attempted to block the 13th km of Baku-Shamakhi highway. This attempt was prevented, 10 of them were brought to the 40th Police Department of Binagadi district Police Office and after drawing up protocol under Article №298 of the Code of Administrative Offences they were released. 

Destructions of people’s houses are common case in Azerbaijan. Many people stayed without houses in Baku while the arena for Eurovision 2012 was built. The buildings which made obstacles for the constructions were destroyed. And man people remained without flats.