August 2011, Baku, Azerbaijan One of the many residents in Baku evicted from their homes due to the new developments. Since the flow of money has poured into Baku thanks to the Baku Tbilisi Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline, the Azeri capital has gone through intensive redevelopment. However human rights organisations criticise the way in which inhabitants of old Baku have been forcefully evicted from homes earmarked for demolition with inadequate compensation.
August 2011, Tbilisi, Georgia - Portrait of a butcher in Tbilisi, where the oil money has the divided the rich and power in a larger extent. Since 2006 the BTC has allowed Azerbaijan to export its oil to world markets through Georgia and Turkey, thus avoiding Russia. It has given Azerbaijan a greater sense of independence and a new role for Georgia in Europe's energy security to the annoyance of Russia. Some blame the BTC for Russia's continued covert involvement in regional latent conflicts especially the South Ossetian crisis which led to the Russia-Georgia war.
August 2011, Batumi, Georgia: Man and a kid swim in the ocean, where an oil tanker can be seen in the background, Batumi a port town known for its Oil tranport. Since the flow of money has poured into Baku thanks to the Baku Tbilisi Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline, the Azeri capital has gone through intensive redevelopment. However human rights organisations criticise the way in which inhabitants of old Baku have been forcefully evicted from homes earmarked for demolition with inadequate compensation.