The 33-story building known as 'Trump Tower' caught fire on Saturday, April 27, in Baku, and as of the time of this report, according to the Azerbaijan Ministry of Emergency Situations, the fire is still ongoing. Hours earlier, it was announced that the fire had been contained, but flames have erupted again from the middle floors of the tower. Construction of this massive building began in 2008, and the Trump Organization, owned by former businessman and U.S. President Donald Trump, entered the project in 2012. However, after Donald Trump's election as President of the United States, the Trump Organization abruptly withdrew from the project just as it was ready to open the tower. Trump's business partner, Anar Mammadov, is the son of Ziya Mammadov, the former Minister of Transport of Azerbaijan. Mr. Ziya was accused in 'WikiLeaks' documents of 'widespread financial corruption, money laundering, and secret financial ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.' The Azerbaijani Minister of Transport was dismissed early last year after 15 years in office, and numerous reports in Azerbaijani media have detailed lawsuits against his family's business empire and the seizure of his son's assets. After the Trump Organization exited the project, the name changed from 'Trump Tower' to 'Garant Tower.' The Garant Holding is now owned by Anar Mammadov. Leading up to the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the Trump Organization's involvement in this project faced criticism. Apart from Azerbaijan, the Trump Organization had several construction projects in Georgia and Turkey, which it announced it would cease after Mr. Trump's election victory. The fire at the Baku tower occurs nearly three weeks after another fire in one of the apartments on the 50th floor of Trump Tower in New York, which resulted in one death. Some media outlets in Baku reported that a man was thrown from the former 'Trump Tower,' resulting in one death on Saturday, but the Azerbaijan Ministry of Emergency Situations denied the accuracy of this report.
Fire at Former 'Trump Tower' in Baku
A fire broke out at the former Trump Tower in Baku, Azerbaijan, which has been ongoing since Saturday. The building was previously associated with Donald Trump's business before the Trump Organization withdrew from the project. This incident raises concerns due to the building's controversial history and the recent fire in New York's Trump Tower.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
A fire broke out at the former Trump Tower in Baku, Azerbaijan, which has been ongoing since Saturday. The building was previously associated with Donald Trump's business before the Trump Organization withdrew from the project.
- The fire is ongoing despite earlier reports of containment.
- The building was renamed Garant Tower after Trump's organization withdrew.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Trump Organization's involvement in international projects has been controversial, particularly in regions with complex political and economic landscapes.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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