Getting Iranian Visas Becomes Problem

Temporary restoration of the Iran visa regime for citizens of Azerbaijan has led to long queues in front of the Iranian embassy in Baku.

From August 5 to 31, Iran restored the visa regime in connection with the August 26 summit of the Non-Aligned Movement to be held in this country. This decision has created serious problems for citizens of Azerbaijan who plan a trip to Iran and for Nakhchivan residents traveling to Baku and other regions through Iran.

Every morning the embassy sees people accumulating to get a visa. People mainly are going to Iran for treatment, as well as residents of Nakhchivan.

Trips to Iran for medical treatment are an indicator of the low level of health care in Azerbaijan, despite the growing number of diagnostic centers and private clinics. The reason for this is the price for surgical operations in Iran are lower and the quality of medical care is significantly higher than in Azerbaijan.

This morning hundreds of people gathered in front of the embassy, and a group of police officers led by a Major arrived.

Since August 5, numbered plates have been issued to citizens in the queue. Some people have come to the embassy for a few days, without getting an appointment. According to them, the police have a list, and they call people on "acquaintance".  One woman from the Bina settlement reported that for a second day she could not even get a ticket for the queue. Police have no comment. The Embassy of Iran also has no comment saying only that this is a temporary measure.

With regard to statistics, every month thousands of Azerbaijani citizens visited Iran, during the visa-free regime. -06D-