Mukhammad Nur Nidal: 7000 natives of Dagestan in centre of war events in Syria

In Syria, 7000 natives of Dagestan appeared to be in the centre of war events, and more than 200 of them have expressed their desire to return to the republic and to obtain Russian citizenship. This was reported today by Mukhammad Nur Nidal, a representative of Syrian immigrants, at the press conference held at the edition office of the newspaper "Chernovik" (Draft) in Makhachkala.

Mukhammad Nur Nidal, a descendant of immigrants from Dagestan, said that his visit to the republic was associated with the initiative of ethnic Dagestanis living in Syria.

"More than 200 persons have expressed their desire to move to Dagestan and to obtain Russian citizenship. The lists of persons willing to move have been already completed. They are mainly intellectuals, doctors, and engineers," the representative of the Diaspora said.

Mukhamad, an ethnic Dagestani native, living in Syria, has contacted the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent via social network "Facebook". At present, Mukhamad is outside the country, in the United Arab Emirates, since he has left Syria prior to the beginning of the conflict; however, his close relatives and his family still are not able to leave Syria.

Mukhamad said that his father's parents fled from the Dagestani village of Mekegi in 1918 and settled in Syria. According to his story, he has lost contacts with his relatives several days ago and he fears for their safety, since he has learned from the TV reports that the village where they live faces active hostilities.