Residents of Dagestan complain about Azerbaijan's demand to take army service there

Asim Ragimov and Almir Akhmedov, Azerbaijani ex-citizens, who had received Russian citizenship and now live in Dagestan, have complained about the demands of Azerbaijani military commissariats to take their military service in the country. According to the young men, they are wanted in Azerbaijan, and, therefore, cannot visit their parents.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports, referring to Milrad Fatullaev, the editor-in-chief of the RIA "Derbent", that "the editorial staff is approached by young people, former citizens of Azerbaijan, whom the neighbouring country is trying to force to take regular military service there."

According to Mr Fatullaev, "the guys were deprived of their documents at the border and brought to police stations and military commissariats."

Amil Sarkarov, Mr Fatullaev's deputy, has stressed that "most of the guys, who faced Azerbaijan's pressure, fear for their relatives and refrain from talking about this issue openly."

He added that the attempt to attract former Azerbaijani citizens to military service "is violating their rights."

Asim Ragimov, now a resident of Dagestan, said that Russian citizens "have to buy Azerbaijani military certificates with a mark of unfitness for military service; they cost 1750-2050 US dollars.'

The "Caucasian Knot" has also reported about the problems of migrants from Khrakh-Uba, who had renounced the Azerbaijani citizenship and live in Dagestan.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.