Foreigners leaving Azerbaijan and permanently living in this country cannot return home

Baku/17.03.20/Turan: The closure of the borders of Azerbaijan for foreigners due to the coronavirus has put citizens of other states permanently residing in the country in a difficult situation. In Azerbaijan, mostly foreigners with citizenship of Russia, Iran, Georgia and Turkey live on an ongoing basis. Some citizens of other countries have created families here, are personnel workers in Azerbaijani state organizations, and even hold leadership positions. With the closure of borders for foreigners, they cannot return to Azerbaijan after visiting other countries, Turan was told by a scientist from the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of losing his job. He is a citizen of Russia, he created a family in Baku with a citizen of Azerbaijan, and they have two children. He was in Turkey to participate in an international conference. When he flew to Istanbul, there was no ban on visiting Azerbaijan for foreigners, so the trip did not portend trouble.

On March 15, 2020, the scientist at the Istanbul airport  they refused to issue him a ticket for a flight to Baku, although it was paid for in advance, and  explained it by the temporary situation because of the coronavirus, bilateral Azerbaijani-Turkish agreement on the termination of visits to Azerbaijan by third-country nationals.

The consul of Azerbaijan in Istanbul refused to help a Russian citizen living in Azerbaijan - an ethnic Azerbaijani. The Russian consul in Istanbul who called the passenger several times, being interested in his condition and advised him to fly to Baku through Russian airspace. The scientist managed to return home, flying from Istanbul to Moscow, from there return to Baku. The passenger will not compensate for financial losses due to the forced acquisition of two unplanned airline tickets.

“My scientific activity in Azerbaijan is aimed at glorifying the republic and its scientific school. I speak in other countries on behalf of Azerbaijani science, following the order of President I. Aliyev on the importance of disseminating information on Karabakh reality in the world. However, this country does not want to take responsibility for us when we find ourselves in a difficult situation. Why did the officials, when deciding to ban the visit of Azerbaijan by citizens of other countries, not remember about those foreigners who for many years live and work in this country, have acquired families and real estate. Where do they go when they are abroad,” the Dr.of Sciences told Turan.

According to him, at the airports of Turkey and Russia, dozens of citizens of Turkey, Iran, Russia and Georgia were in a difficult situation, who, due to restrictions due to the coronavirus, cannot return to their families and work in Azerbaijan.

According to the State Statistics Committee, in 2018, 3.2 thousand foreigners arrived in Azerbaijan for permanent residence. In 2019, the Turkish Foreign Ministry reported that 55,000 Turkish citizens permanently reside in Azerbaijan. According to 2010 data, about 125,000 foreigners arrived in Azerbaijan from the countries of the former USSR. The largest part of arrivals in Azerbaijan falls on Russia - 53 thousand people. Over 1,500 people have arrived in Azerbaijan from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East over the past 13 years, the Baku Worker newspaper reported in 2010. —0—