DEC. 29 2013 (The Conway Bulletin) — On Dec. 25, Zaur Ahmadov sat outside an Azerbaijani government ministry in Baku, doused himself in fuel and set himself on fire. He died of 70% burns four days later.
Mr Ahmadov, 42, was protesting at the perceived injustice of not receiving compensation for the bulldozing of his restaurant nearly 20 years ago by a pro-government official.
His frustration was the frustration of the little man. In Azerbaijan, like most places in former Soviet Central Asia and the South Caucasus, power and contacts often means immunity.
The World has seen this before — and with immense consequences.
Frustrated by bullying from government officials, in December 2010 in Tunisia Mohamed Bouazizi set himself alight. He died a few days later. His immolation captured the attention of the Arab World, triggering street protests that ultimately changed regimes in North Africa.
Mr Ahmadov’s immolation last week also triggered small street protests and the authorities were predictably tough on the demonstrators. Police arrested 22 demonstrators when they tried to hold a protest immediately after Mr Ahmadov’s funeral. Six were imprisoned for a few days.
Mr Ahmadov’s frustrations are shared by many in Azerbaijan and it is important to monitor just how the authorities will react to dampen any signs of further discontent.
Importantly, the authorities clearly recognise the danger of the situation. After Mr Ahmadov died, the government paid his family around $125,000 in compensation. A Conway Bulletin correspondent in Baku also said the government had told Mr Ahmadov’s family not to politicise his death.
ENDS
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(News report from Issue No. 166, published on Jan. 8 2014)
