13:05, 26 October 2007

Azerbaijan: refugees are evicted because of construction of US Embassy in Baku

Because of construction of a new building of the US Embassy in the capital of Azerbaijan, the authorities of the city made a decision to evict a group of refugees from the territory of the former trolleybus depot. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent has learnt about it today.

The authorities of Baku suggested refugees to move to a city's suburb, where they were allotted a small land plot and promised that houses will be built for them there. However, the refugees do not believe to the authorities' promises and refuse to leave their shelter where they live since 1993.

It is necessary to note here that when approached by the police, the refugees refused to obey, as a result of which several collisions burst out between the parties, and one woman even made a self-burning attempt. At present, the situation is normalized. The refugees were provided with land estates in the Mekhtiabad settlement, where houses for them are being built.

The US Embassy in Azerbaijan makes no comments on the situation.

Author: Naira Ayrumian, CK correspondent