Under certain concurrence of circumstances Baku may lose not only the village of Khrakh-Uba, but also the entire South Lezgistan

PanARMENIAN.Net - However, in long term perspective, the fewer opponents Russia has in the North Caucasus, the better. But, unfortunately, the Kremlin thinks differently, even despite the fact that villagers of Khrakh-Uba show reluctance to be citizens of Azerbaijan. They have to do so, as Azerbaijan is obsessed by the idea of establishing a mono-ethnic state, like Turkey. There neither is nor will be in the country another nationality, except for the Azerbaijanis - these words appear to be the slogan of the ruling party “Yeni Azerbaijan”.

According to Russian historian Vladimir Zakharov, the situation is very sad and unfortunate. “The village will remain part of Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, there are no people in Russia, who are aware of the situation and could help the Lezgins,” he stressed.

Residents of Khrakh-Uba village, located on the territory of Azerbaijan, held an authorized rally in Makhachkala, demanding protection of their rights as Russian citizens.

Most likely, the Lezgins’ will remain unheeded, until ... the Aliyev clan does grand foolishness starting a war against Karabakh or spoiling relations with Iran, for good and all. There is also another option: it is more advantageous for Moscow to keep the Lezgins separated, so that, when occasion offers, to combine the Northern and Southern Lezgistan. And it’s not just one village, but the rayons of Khachmaz, Sheki and Guba.

Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry hurried to dissociate itself from the village residents, citing historical data. “Judging from the available material, in the Soviet years between Dagestan ASSR and Azerbaijan SSR there was carried out a mutual exchange of small areas to be temporarily used for agricultural purposes. Dagestan got for temporary use in Azerbaijan, acres for housing the cattle driven to winter pastures. Gradually, permanent houses were built and settlements formed in these territories. Thus, there appeared the settlements Khrakh-Uba and Uryan-Uba. The decision of the USSR Government, signed in 1954, on exchange of territories finally expired in 2004. There have been found no other documents in the central and national archives that would tell us about presence of the Russian territories in Azerbaijan,” the Russian Foreign Ministry statement reads.

The move of the Russian foreign ministry is quite understandable: now Russia needs no odd gestures in the Caucasus. On the other hand, it’s difficult for her to remain in her present position. Thus, the situation is very explosive and it’s quite possible that Russia and Azerbaijan, unwittingly, may be embroiled in territorial disputes. The situation will be self-defeating for both sides; the villages may simply be destroyed and the residents moved with Azerbaijani passports and nationality. Alas, no one in the world can prevent it.