Bekmurzaev: accusations of residents of Russian enclave in Azerbaijan against authorities are groundless

Complaints of residents of the Dagestani village of Khrakh-Uba, the Russian enclave in Azerbaijan, of the failure of the authorities to ensure the citizens' rights are groundless. This was declared by Bekmurza Bekmurzaev, Minister of National Policy, Religious Affairs and External Relations of the Republic of Dagestan.

The letter of the resident of the village of Khrakh-Uba addressed to the President of Russia was published by the Dagestani weekly newspaper "Nastoyaschee Vremya" (Real Time). The letter, which does not list names and other data of signatories, states: "By your signature dated September 3, 2010, you have legalized separation of Lezgian people. Once you had presented our villages, the Azerbaijani authorities started squeezing us out of our own houses."

Bekmurza Bekmurzaev, Minister of National Policy, Religious Affairs and External Relations of Dagestan, has commented on recent published appeals, signed on behalf of the residents of the village of Khrakh-Uba, against the fact that the Azerbaijani authorities violate their rights.

"The crossing of the state border is conducted in accordance with the national legislation on the state border, the laws on exit and entry into the territory of the sovereign state, and the international law. In accordance with the practice adopted, any sovereign state has the right to apply restrictions on entry of foreign citizens into its territory in compliance with the interests of national security. And at the same time, the state, which restricts the right of foreigners to entry into its territory, is not obliged to explain the reasons for the restrictions," Bekmurza Bekmurzaev stated.

At present, according to the Minister, in response to orders of the Russian President and the leader of Dagestan the work to develop the federal programme on resettlement of the residents of the village of Khrakh-Uba in Dagestan has been started.

Bekmurza Bekmurzaev told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the list of the village residents, who had expressed their desire to resettle to Dagestan, was sent to the Russian Ministry of Regional Development. The list includes applications attached, and all the signatures have been certified.