Protest actions held in Nardaran, a village near BakuFebruary 17, 2011 - 20:05 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Protesters in Azerbaijan took to the streets again to protest a shortage of gas and electricity and vowed to hold rallies every Friday until their demands are met, according to reports. Some of the hundreds of demonstrators who rallied in Imam Huseyn Square in the center of Nardaran, a village near Baku, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that despite government assurances that the energy infrastructure in the area had been upgraded, the supply of gas and electricity to the community had not increased. Azerbaijan is a major exporter of energy resources. Protesters said they were closely watching the self-proclaimed efforts of President Ilham Aliyev to combat widespread corruption in Azerbaijan to monitor any improvements. In recent weeks Aliyev has called on Azerbaijanis to report instances of corruption by state workers and has reportedly fired many government officials for allegedly being involved in graft. Some demonstrators also talked about disappointment in what they called "false elections" that have been held in the country in recent years. The residents of Nardaran, a community of some 8,000 people about 25 kilometers northeast of Baku, are considered among the most fervent Muslims in Azerbaijan. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |