A. Orujlu: the concentration of Russian troops in Dagestan is a link in the chain of great provocations

Informal information about the concentration of Russian troops and equipment in the vicinity to the Georgian and Azerbaijani border has been received lately. There is also an information about   sending a large contingent of troops and armored vehicles to  Dido and Botlikh regions of Dagestan.

The most interesting thing is that the official Russian authorities do not deny the reports.

Meanwhile, on August 29, there was a fight between the  Georgian soldiers and a  group of gunmen, who  came from Dagestan and seized hostages in eastern Georgia. During the operation, 11 militants from the North Caucasus, allegedly Wahhabis, were killed. 

According to experts, the  gunmen  could be pushed to Georgia by Russian troops.

"However, this process is ambiguous. The aim of this military operation is not the destruction, namely pushing fighters to Georgia and Azerbaijan. Among the gunmen there are many Russian agents, they will destabilize the situation in neighboring countries, and will be controlled by relevant services of Russia." Arastun Orujlu said in an interview with Turan, commenting on a possible motives of Moscow in the current situation.

Kremlin periodically makes it clear  that he will not tolerate foreign influence in the North Caucasus.

The recent shooting of Shiites  in a mosque in Hasavyurt is a  signal for Baku not to seek to extend its influence over Shiites in Dagestan. This action happened immediately after the meeting  of spiritual leaders of the North Caucasus in Baku, recognizing the  leadership of Sheikh Allahshukur Pashazade and those who see Azerbaijan as a religious center of the Caucasus.

"Therefore, in the near future we should expect the penetration of militant groups in Azerbaijan and their attempts to destabilize the situation in the regions bordering with Dagestan",  said Orujlu.

Russia intends to conduct large-scale military exercises in the autumn in the North Caucasus, in the occupied Abkhazia and South Ossetia. However, now  there is a concentration   of troops and equipment. Therefore, one should expect that the provocations along the border with Azerbaijan and Georgia will be long-term, the expert believes. -02В-