Azerbaijan.US
A video circulating on Azerbaijani social media has triggered public debate after showing a man identified as a local official ordering a street vendor to remove goods from outside a shop and load them into a vehicle.
In the footage, the official claims the sidewalk belongs to pedestrians and cannot be used for selling goods. He instructs the vendor to collect the merchandise himself and repeatedly orders: “Load it into the car.” No written order, official notice, or reference to a specific legal act is presented in the video.
The incident has raised broader questions about how street trade regulations are enforced and whether officials have the legal authority to confiscate goods without formal documentation.
Critics argue that even if selling goods on sidewalks is prohibited, enforcement must follow clear legal procedures. These include presenting an official decision, explaining the legal basis for seizure, and clarifying where confiscated goods are taken and under what conditions they may be returned.
Public reaction has also focused on what many describe as selective enforcement. While vendors are removed in some locations, similar practices reportedly continue openly in other parts of the city, adding to perceptions of inconsistency and arbitrariness.
Small business owners and economic observers warn that such practices, when carried out without transparency, risk undermining trust in regulatory institutions and placing additional pressure on micro-entrepreneurs operating in already challenging conditions.
The video has reignited calls for clear, publicly accessible rules governing street trade, including where such activities are permitted, which authorities are responsible for enforcement, and what procedures must be followed during inspections.
As of now, no official statement has been issued clarifying the incident or identifying the official involved. Azerbaijan.US has contacted relevant authorities for comment.
