Baku resident sues authorities for Formula 1

Baku resident Tatyana Kryuchkina sued the organizers of the F1 Grand Prix that was recently held in Azerbaijan for violating her freedom of movement and right for recreation. She believes blocking the central streets and recreational venues constitute a blatant violation of human rights and arbitrariness.

Baku is one of three cities where the race is organized along the city streets, rather than on a specially-built racetrack. In places like Monaco and Singapore it can be attributed due to the lack of suitable space, but in Baku the residents are indignant at the fact that the race route goes through the central streets.

“The central streets are blocked by concrete blocks and grids, as if we live in a zoo. This year`s officials who were wearing green vests looked like military personnel,” Kryuchkina commented to the Turan Agency.

“People cannot move freely in order to go to work or to relax. On 23 July, we intended to stroll along the boulevard, but were prohibited to do so despite the fact that the boulevard is a public space, and residents cannot be banned from there,” Kryuchkina said.

The Kryuchkina case will be represented in court by lawyer Samira Agaeva. The case is brought against the company running the F1 race in Azerbaijan (owned by the son of the Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs) and the Baku mayor`s office.

“Article 2 of the European Convention Protocol states that no-one can restrict freedom of movement. The exclusions have nothing in common with F1. Also, the violation of the right for recreation is mentioned in this case as the boulevard remained closed for an additional two days after the race was completed.

“We also mentioned Article 14 of the European Convention banning discrimination that took place at the time of the Grand Prix in Baku. The boulevard was open for ticket owners who were free to enjoy their right to recreation,” Agaeva said to the Turan Agency.

“I do not believe that we can win in the national courts. However, we hope to establish a precedent as the race has already been planned for the next three years. At the end of the day, we plan to bring the case to the European Court on Human Rights,” Agaeva said.

Tatyana Kryuchkina is an accountant at the independent Institute for Reporters Freedom and Safety. Emin Huseynov, the head of the organization, and Idrak Abbasov, one of the founders, were forced to seek asylum in Europe. Mehman Huseynov, one of the reporters working for the organization (Emin`s brother) is now in jail.