NGOs, parties appeal to gov’t over Gabala station

On the eve of Russian President Putin's visit to Azerbaijan, representatives of NGOs and political parties have urged the government to shut down the Gabala Radio Location Station, which has inflicted immense damage to the soil and people of Azerbaijan.

The appeal was adopted Friday at a meeting at the NGO Resource Center, as participants spoke of the ruinous impact of the station on flora, fauna, soil and human health. Also highlighted was a 19.8% increase in mortality rate, 6.1% decline in birth rate, doubled blood diseases, tripled endocrine diseases, growth in nervous and somatic maladies by 7.6 times, kidney diseases by 8.5%, etc. Repeated appeals to various government instances, including Prime Minister Artur Rasizadeh and Health Minister Ali Insanov, have yielded no fruit.

The meeting emphasized that Russia has to reimburse at least the material damage caused, which has not been calculated yet.*