An Azerbaijani couple today attempted suicide outside President Ilham Aliyev’s office in the capital, Baku, in protest against what they described as illegal demolition of their house.

Elcin Salahov, a veteran of the Karabakh war, and his wife Jala Salahova set themselves alight. They were both hospitalized with severe burns.

The wife is in serious condition as she had 45 percent of her body burnt, doctors said. She has been placed in the intensive care unit of Baku’s hospital No 5.

Police cordoned off the site of the incident, according to Turan news agency.

The couple said their house was destroyed despite a Sumqayit court ruling that banned demolition.

Self-immolation has emerged as a new form of protest in Azerbaijan after Zaur Hasanov, also a Karabakh war veteran, burnt himself to death in December after the authorities demolished his café. Several more protests followed.

Bakudaily.Az