A giant 52-meter long cake, baked in honor of the Azerbaijani president's 52nd birthday, has finally been presented to the public, five days after Ilham Aliyev's big day.
Officials in the Azerbaijani city of Sumgayit said that the cake appeared in public five days after Aliyev's December 24 birthday "because it was not ready on time."
The annual giant-birthday-cake-making event is organized by the local governor, Eldar Azimov, who started the tradition a few years ago in the city of Ganja, where he served as a governor.
Opposition activists in Azerbaijan say such events are an example of the increasing personality cult surrounding the president's family.
Aliyev inherited power from his father Heydar Aliyev in 2003. Across the country, there are statues and museums dedicated to Heydar, who died in 2003. Many public spaces are either named after the former president or adorned with his image.
In another event, launched on December 24 in Ganja, 52,000 trees will be planted in the coming months.
In Azerbaijan, governors head regional administrations and are not elected but appointed by the president.
-- RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service
Officials in the Azerbaijani city of Sumgayit said that the cake appeared in public five days after Aliyev's December 24 birthday "because it was not ready on time."
The annual giant-birthday-cake-making event is organized by the local governor, Eldar Azimov, who started the tradition a few years ago in the city of Ganja, where he served as a governor.
Opposition activists in Azerbaijan say such events are an example of the increasing personality cult surrounding the president's family.
Aliyev inherited power from his father Heydar Aliyev in 2003. Across the country, there are statues and museums dedicated to Heydar, who died in 2003. Many public spaces are either named after the former president or adorned with his image.
In another event, launched on December 24 in Ganja, 52,000 trees will be planted in the coming months.
In Azerbaijan, governors head regional administrations and are not elected but appointed by the president.
-- RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service