Russian Humanitarian Center - View from Baku

Baku / 16.11.20 / Turan: On November 13, the President of Russia signed a decree "On the Interdepartmental Center for Humanitarian Response."

The decree, consisting of three points, provides for the actions of Russian government agencies to facilitate the return of its residents to Nagorno-Karabakh (NK), assistance to Azerbaijan and Armenia in restoring infrastructure and creating normal living conditions in NK, coordination of the activities of public and state structures in this direction, and assistance to Azerbaijan and Armenia in the implementation of these tasks. The Center includes law enforcement, other federal agencies and the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Judging by the text of the decree, its activities are limited to Nagorno-Karabakh, it is carried out together with the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia, refugees mean the citizens of these countries, and Azerbaijan’s ownership of Nagorno-Karabakh is not mentioned in the Decree. The leading and coordinating Russian body performing the tasks of the Center will be the Defense Ministry of the Russian Federation.

Deputy Chairman of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan Seymur Hazi expressed concern over the appearance of this document, as it legitimizes the actions of the power structures of Russia in the territory of Azerbaijan. The PFPA believes that in Azerbaijan all decisions and actions should be carried out by the authorities of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

"The appearance of such a decree and its implementation is a violation of the Constitution and the sovereignty of Azerbaijan," he stressed in a conversation with Turan.

One of the leaders of the REAL party, Natig Jafarli, drew attention to the fact that the text of Putin's decree proceeds from the provision of the trilateral agreement on peace in Karabakh, signed by the President of Azerbaijan on November 10 (2020). This means that official Baku cannot oppose this decree.

N. Jafarli emphasizes the interline meaning of the text of the decree, which is that the Russian Federation is interested in the return of Armenians to Nagorno-Karabakh and the consolidation of these people there as permanent residents.

“Russia needs 50-60 thousand Armenians permanently residing in Karabakh for international justification of the presence of the Russian army in Azerbaijan as peacekeepers. Therefore, Moscow will do everything to lure and fix Armenians in NK, ensuring their safety,” N. Jafarli said in an interview with Turan.

Economist Jalal Aliyev believes that Russia can carry out humanitarian tasks on the territory of another state. But Baku must ensure that after the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from Karabakh, the Russian peacekeeping forces do not resolve the issues of the Azerbaijani territory with Yerevan.

“We need Russia not to motivate the Armenians who left Karabakh to return. It is undesirable for any structure ("Center") created by this decree to be located in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani structures can be located in Karabakh, and if there is a need for Russia to provide humanitarian support to the Armenians, the Russian Federation should first turn to Baku. Azerbaijan itself can solve all humanitarian issues on its land. If Russia wants to help us, we are grateful to it, but this help should have a time frame,” Jalal Aliyev said in an interview with Turan.

According to Aydin Mirzazadeh, a deputy from the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, Russia cannot but take into account the interests of Azerbaijan in its actions. The Decree applies equally to refugee citizens from Azerbaijan and Armenia.

“Armenia is now in a miserable state, it is unable to meet the needs of Armenian refugees, or to restore the infrastructure destroyed by the war in Karabakh. Therefore, the creation of the Russian Center is understandable. Azerbaijan does not oppose Russian assistance to Armenia and our country. In Nagorno-Karabakh, it is necessary to restore and build hospitals, schools, and other social facilities, and Russia undertakes to assist in this. The main thing is that the actions of the Russian Federation do not contradict the sovereign rights of Azerbaijan,” A. Mirzazadeh said.—0—