Azernews.Az

The Iranian government is vacating Azeri-populated borderline villages located in the country's north and settling Armenians there, head of the South Azerbaijan Independence Party's Research and Information Center says.
Sadig Isabayli said Tehran plans to move residents of the Mughan region to new settlements. He said representatives of Iran's Natural Resources and Property Registration Organization were trying to acquire land from the population in several villages by offering them bribes. Witnesses say those unwilling to sell their land face pressure from the police and Iranian Revolutionary Guards. One person challenging the relocations was Gudrat Fahri, a 55-year-old resident of Jananly village. "He was told to either sell his land or let it on lease. He replied that he had inherited his land from his forefathers and would not give it away. Witnesses say Iranian officials responded by using bulldozer to bury Fahri in soil. With the help of villagers, he barely managed to get out," Isabayli said.
He noted that Armenians living in Isfahan are being settled in the vacated areas to engage in sowing. Additionally, they are provided with land plots and long-term loans on advantageous terms for the purpose.