BAKU, Azerbaijan - Museum founder Elchin Aliyev has criticized tea producer Azərçay and Veysəloğlu Group after the companies declined a request to support the opening of Baku’s Teapot Treasury Museum, according to a Vesti Baku report.
Aliyev said in a Facebook post that the museum sought several hundred manats to prepare gifts for guests at its opening. In return, participating companies would have been allowed to install displays, distribute advertising materials and present or sell products to museum visitors.
The Teapot Treasury Museum is located in Icherisheher, Baku’s Old City. It was created from Aliyev’s private collection, assembled over many years, and displays teapots from Azerbaijan and other countries.
Aliyev said he first approached Azərçay, part of Azərsun Holding, and later Veysəloğlu Group, whose businesses include tea distribution in Azerbaijan. He said both companies declined after months of correspondence and waiting.
The proposal involved packages of locally produced tea, small jars of jam or branded gift sets for opening-day visitors, Aliyev said. He argued that the arrangement would have offered the companies both advertising and commercial value.
Aliyev said the refusals were at odds with corporate statements about patriotism, national values and social responsibility. He acknowledged that private companies are entitled to decide which projects they sponsor but said their public claims should be reflected in concrete support for local cultural initiatives.
He directed particularly sharp criticism at Azərçay, claiming the company had sent an expensive gift to Russian media personality Victoria Bonya but declined to support a museum in Baku’s historic center. He estimated that participation in the museum event would have cost about five times less. AZE.US could not independently verify the comparison.
Aliyev also linked the episode to what he described as insufficient market competition, arguing that companies have less incentive to support small public projects when they expect consumers to buy their products regardless.
Rza Mammadov, head of public relations at Azərsun Holding, responded in the comments that he would examine the matter and contact Aliyev, according to Vesti Baku. The response did not explain the initial decision to decline the request.