Senior members of the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan Party (YAP) today visited the Karabakh war veteran who set himself on fire in central Baku on Dec. 25 following a property dispute with the Confederation of Trade Unions.Siyavus Novruzov and Mubariz Qurbanli, deputy YAP executive secretaries and members of parliament from the ruling party, visited Zaur Hasanov in Baku’s hospital No 5 and met war veterans that had gathered outside.Hasanov, who was disabled during the war with Armenia over Karabakh, set himself alight in protest against what he described as illegal seizure of his land by Sattar Mehbaliyev, head of the Confederation of Trade Unions. He was hospitalized with severe burns and is said to be in a critical condition.Mehbaliyev said the land had been used by Hasanov illegally and therefore was taken from him by a court ruling.

Pictures of the self-immolation were posted online and shared on social networks. Some groups on Facebook called for a demonstration on Dec. 28. 

ANN.Az