Moscow `can`t stay outside` dispute over borderline villages
Russia cannot stay outside the issue concerning two Azerbaijani
northern villages bordering on its republic of Daghestan,
Ambassador Vasili Istratov has said.
"We will not leave this matter unattended given that Russian citizens live there," Istratov told a press conference Tuesday.
The Azerbaijani government says the settlement of Russian nationals in the Khrakhoba and Uryanoba villages populated by ethnic Lezgins is unlawful and the issue is an internal administrative matter.
The villagers are seeking their residential areas to be recognized as Russia`s enclave, charging that the Russian Federation`s Constitution is valid there, while local residents are allowed to vote in Russia`s elections, and local youngsters undergo military service in the neighboring country. Moreover, most of the local population has close relatives in Daghestan. These claims have raised eyebrows in Baku.
The authorities said granting Azerbaijani citizenship to the residents is possible but they are required to apply to relevant government agencies for the purpose.
The ambassador said that although a solution should be found to the dispute, the legal aspects of the issue have not been studied yet.
"Talks on the issue have been at the initial stage so far. But I can say that neither side intends to take resolute action that would hurt the people," he said.
Istratov noted that the issue was not discussed during Russian President Dmitry Medvedev`s visit to Baku last week.
The villagers hope that the problem will be solved between the two countries` governments by Azerbaijan`s October presidential elections.
A total of 230 people reside in Khrakhoba and Uryanoba. The land was temporarily transferred as pasture areas to the Daghestan autonomy on a decision of the Soviet Union`s ruling body, the Council of Ministers, in 1954. In 1984, the government of the Azerbaijan Republic which was then part of the USSR extended the validity of the document until 2004. Villagers say that although the paper has expired, there are no documents stipulating the return of the areas to Baku by Moscow or Azerbaijan`s officially regaining these areas.
"We will not leave this matter unattended given that Russian citizens live there," Istratov told a press conference Tuesday.
The Azerbaijani government says the settlement of Russian nationals in the Khrakhoba and Uryanoba villages populated by ethnic Lezgins is unlawful and the issue is an internal administrative matter.
The villagers are seeking their residential areas to be recognized as Russia`s enclave, charging that the Russian Federation`s Constitution is valid there, while local residents are allowed to vote in Russia`s elections, and local youngsters undergo military service in the neighboring country. Moreover, most of the local population has close relatives in Daghestan. These claims have raised eyebrows in Baku.
The authorities said granting Azerbaijani citizenship to the residents is possible but they are required to apply to relevant government agencies for the purpose.
The ambassador said that although a solution should be found to the dispute, the legal aspects of the issue have not been studied yet.
"Talks on the issue have been at the initial stage so far. But I can say that neither side intends to take resolute action that would hurt the people," he said.
Istratov noted that the issue was not discussed during Russian President Dmitry Medvedev`s visit to Baku last week.
The villagers hope that the problem will be solved between the two countries` governments by Azerbaijan`s October presidential elections.
A total of 230 people reside in Khrakhoba and Uryanoba. The land was temporarily transferred as pasture areas to the Daghestan autonomy on a decision of the Soviet Union`s ruling body, the Council of Ministers, in 1954. In 1984, the government of the Azerbaijan Republic which was then part of the USSR extended the validity of the document until 2004. Villagers say that although the paper has expired, there are no documents stipulating the return of the areas to Baku by Moscow or Azerbaijan`s officially regaining these areas.
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