Having lived and worked in Azerbaijan, Carpetblogger is not surprised by the news that a newly-built highrise collapsed in the capital Baku due to poor building standards.
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Learn more about Lingua Translation »Having lived and worked in Azerbaijan, Carpetblogger is not surprised by the news that a newly-built highrise collapsed in the capital Baku due to poor building standards.
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How can it be no one knew about the construction of this building? How can you hide a 16 stories building in downtown Baku when you can’t even make an international call from here anymore without having you conversation bugged?
The truth is that all new buildings have either official or unofficial approval through bribes and that for larger buildings like the one that collapsed these bribes take place at a ministerial level. Moreover most new large buildings projects are owned by people at a very high political level (such as ministers) but these people stay in the shadows while their stooges take the fall. The property marked is manipulated by these people so on average apartment of 1000 sqft typically cost US$ 150,000, while the average Azeri citizen typically earns US $ 200-300 per month. Not to worry though, financing is available at bargain prices for 15-20% interest rate per year! Baku is set up for a major catastrophe when the next earthquake hits as most of the new buildings will not be able to withstand even a minor tremor, and unfortunately the real culprits are not likely ever to be held accountable.