The opposition People’s Front of Azerbaijan Party (AXCP) was told to vacate its office in Baku after an explosion ripped through the basement of the two-story building on March 3.

Officers of the Ministry of Emergencies said the party had to vacate the building, which they claimed was no longer safe to use and therefore will be demolished, according Abulfaz Qurbanli, deputy head of AXCP. 

The ministry said on its website the explosion was probably caused by a gas leak, a theory senior party members rejected.

AXCP had been without an office since 2007 when it was forced to leave its HQ in central Baku. The current office was rented last year.

ANN.Az