Kubinka is one of the oldest and central neighborhoods of Baku, Azerbaijan. Like other neighborhoods such as Sovetski and Alatava, it is the latest victim of sweeping urban redevelopment projects. At first glance, replacing old buildings, narrow houses, and winding streets with modern, high-rise structures might seem like a positive trend. However, the process is quite painful for the neighborhood residents. Experts note that Baku is one of the most active landslide zones in the country, and the proliferation of skyscrapers poses significant dangers. But these aren't the only concerns for the local population.
Since the demolition of Sovetski and other neighborhoods began in 2013, the past decade has seen ongoing protests and dissatisfaction between residents and construction companies.
Some citizens were worried about the destruction of their old neighborhoods, tarnishing the authentic Baku image, and the loss of memories, while many others disagreed with the prices companies and local authorities mandated for their homes. This led to conflicts between homeowners, company employees, and state representatives.
The gray parks and high-rise buildings erected in the demolished areas of Sovetski starkly contrast with the undemolished sections, but the aftermath extends far beyond the visual disparity. Many residents recall those days with heartache. Reviewing the resettlement process in Sovetski reveals scenes of homeowners arrested and fined during protests, houses forcibly demolished by bulldozers, and residents relocated to far-off suburbs, disconnected from the urban environment and living standards they were accustomed to.
Other central neighborhoods in Baku face similar fates from time to time. Indeed, some residents may have been tired of the houses, over two centuries-old, and looked forward to living in newly constructed buildings with the compensation offered. However, expectations of residents never match the reality they receive.
The new owners of these areas, whether under the Baku City Executive Authority or - relevant construction companies, execute the process brutally without respecting the nuances and sanctity of the concept of "home." They demand that homeowners vacate their houses within a short period, if the residents don't agree to the terms, they demolish other houses in front of them with bulldozers, "intentionally" damaging neighboring houses to coerce compliance. These neighborhoods, which embody the old face of Baku which holds two centuries of history, are razed to the ground in a short period—turned into ruins—leaving the city's residents to witness this desolation for a long time.
Living within this distressing scene becomes increasingly difficult for residents who don't want to leave their homes. The transformation of their neighborhoods into ruins, the departure of long-time neighbors, and the sudden obliteration of everything which holds countless memories has become the unchanging fate of the residents.
For the past two years, the homes of residents on Əlibaba Abdullayev Street in the Yasamal district, commonly known as the "Kubinka" neighborhood, have been subject to demolition by the "RR Construction" company. This has resulted in another wave of citizen dissatisfaction and the creation of yet another neighborhood turned into ruins.
During my visit to the area, construction company inspectors hindered my filming. When I explained that I was making a documentary about the historical neighborhood and wanted to capture its unfortunate end, they said it wasn't necessary. They claimed the tall, decorated buildings would make the place much more beautiful than its old state.
The residents, however, have little faith that they will benefit from this "beauty" at the cost of their homes being demolished.
Most homeowners are unwilling to sell their homes. The residents state they haven't agreed to the demolition of their homes because they are dissatisfied with the compensation amounts offered. Yet, the company workers have damaged their homes with bulldozers.
"I didn't want to sell my home, but they damaged it against my will. In this cold weather, you can see the sky through my ceiling. No matter how much we try, we can't keep the house warm."
Another resident reports that the company deliberately damaged homes to make them look hazardous. He said that he had recently renovated his house, but now the company workers have completely destroyed it, breaking windows and demolishing the balcony.
"If the house was in such a terrible condition, how were we living here during the winter?"
Residents also explained why they couldn't come to an agreement with the company. While some residents reached an agreement with the company's management, many found the offered compensation insufficient. Homeowners argue that the company's offer of 2000 azn [ 1170 USD] per square meter is very low.
"We're used to living in the city center. Our jobs and our children's schools are in Baku. Our lives have been spent in these streets, and we don't want to move far from the familiar places. With the amount offered, it's hard to find homes even in distant suburbs like Xırdalan or Masazır."
Some residents also highlight that the proposed amount is unreasonable given the rising real estate prices. They believe that their homes are being bought at "water prices," while the new homes to be built will be sold at very high prices. They will struggle to even find homes in the outskirts with the meager compensation they receive.
"No one thinks about us, only their pockets. It's easy to demolish our homes and throw us out. In the end, they will get what they want, but no one cares where we'll live in this winter cold."
Residents say that company officials know that the houses are small in square footage, yet they offer a "laughable" amount. They state that with the 2000 Azn offered for 15-16 square meter houses, it's impossible to buy even a yard house, let alone an apartment.
"My brother and I have two separate houses in a shared yard, each with 2 rooms. The company considers them as one house because we use a shared bathroom and offers a 2-room apartment. How can two families fit into a 2-room apartment? When we object, they say that only 2-room apartments are available in the building corresponding to the combined square footage of the two houses. We were already living under difficult conditions, and for years we believed that if our houses were included in the redevelopment plan, our situation would improve. However, we are being condemned to a more uncomfortable situation than what we currently have.”
Residents who do not agree with the company and do not leave their homes also report they are being subjected to psychological pressure through frequent artificial interruptions of communal services to force them to sell their homes.
"The power frequently goes out, and the gas pipes have been disabled. The company carrying out the demolition claims there are many hazardous houses in the area. Even if there are hazardous houses, there are very few. The residents of those houses left before everyone else. But it's not right to damage the remaining houses like this.
-Rafael Abdullayev, director of RR Construction, says that the company did not damage the residents' homes, but only demolished the homes of those who agreed to the demolition, and the other houses were already hazardous.
A significant portion of Kubinka, one of Baku's oldest neighborhoods, has already been demolished, and this distress is its inevitable fate. The residents, however, who have endured the myriad difficulties of living in an old house in an ancient neighborhood, do not receive recompense for their hardships.
These old neighborhoods did not willingly give way to the beautiful Baku. Each house was torn from the city's heart. A new ruin emerges from the remnants of demolished homes and the shattered memories of residents. One day, all these ruins will give way to tall, grand buildings, but Baku's heartache will not heal.
