Russia won’t venture conflict with Azerbaijan, expert says

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia will not openly support the residents of Dagestani Hrah-Uba village, an Armenian expert said.

“There can be some contradiction with Azerbaijan, as the villagers are Russian citizens, but it will not lead to a political crisis,” Caucasus Institute Director Alexander Iskandaryan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

Residents of Hrah-Uba village located on the territory of Azerbaijani held a rally in Makhachkala, demanding protection of their rights as Russian citizens. “Azerbaijan demands from the village residents that they immediately accept Azerbaijani citizenship, otherwise threatening with deportation without compensation for property and land that is categorically unacceptable for us. We address to the authorities of Russia and Dagestan, asking them to secure protection of the constitutional rights of the residents of Hrah-Uba enclave; to stop deportation of the enclave residents and to reunify families, to provide them with the opportunity of unhindered crossing of the state border; and to recognize Hrah-Uba as a Russian territory,” the demonstrators’ declaration read.