| Azerbaijan Evicts Homeowners, Some Ahead of the Song Contest |
| Flush with oil revenues, Azerbaijan is trying to polish its image abroad, transforming its capital, Baku, into a glittering Dubai-style city. At the same time, it’s gearing up to host Eurovision, a popular song contest with acts from 56 countries, expected to draw more than 100 million television viewers this May. However, a new report says that the Eurovision event is overshadowed by human rights abuses in Baku – illegal evictions and demolitions of people’s homes as part of a government-sponsored beautification project. In one neighborhood, dozens of families have been forcibly evicted to make way for a modern, glass-encased arena. Some have been forced out without warning, others evicted in the middle of the night. Homes have been torn down while the owners’ possessions – furniture, photos – were still inside. The Eurovision Song Contest will be the first major event in the arena. When residents refused to leave their apartments, authorities forced them out by cutting off electricity and water or removing the building’s windows, letting in the rain, wind, and snow. Some evicted residents said the government offered them nominal payments. But the offers didn’t begin to cover the value of their homes – some in highly desirable areas overlooking the Caspian Sea. |
