Zaur Hasanov, a Karabakh war veteran who set himself on fire in central Baku on December 25 in protest against the seizure of his land and demolition of his café by a member of parliament, has died in hospital.

Hasanov was in a dispute with Sattar Mehbaliyev, who also heads the Confederation of Trade Unions, and accused him of seizing the land in Baku’s Bibiheybat area.

Mehbaliyev said the land had been used by Hasanov illegally and therefore taken from him by a court order. 

After the self-immolation, which caused popular anger, Mehbaliyev promised to pay Hasanov 100,000 manat in compensation for the damage and a monthly payment of 1,500 manat to his family.

Hasanov, who was disabled during the war, had five underage children. 

ANN.Az