Georgian Azerbaijanis are asking for help from President Ilham Aliyev

A group of Azerbaijani migrants from Georgia appealed to President Ilham Aliyev to provide them with incentives to live and work in Azerbaijan. As reported in today's press conference the head of NGO Center for Studies of the Caucasus Kamran Ramazanli, migrant workers and other categories of persons belonging to Azerbaijanis in Georgia are facing serious difficulties.

He classified them into four groups: students, migrant workers, people deported from Georgia in 1989-91 years and blended families. The number of the latter families is about 50,000 people.

Students have no problems – for 40 manat they have the right to study in Azerbaijan. However, migrant workers have recently faced serious problems. So, they have to pay fees for the right to work in the amount of 1,100 manat per year. Another three thousand manat for them is to be paid by the employer. For nonpayment of taxes a migrant faces a fine of 400 manat and deportation.

Revenues of Georgian Azerbaijanis are not high, and they cannot afford that kind of money, and it is disadvantageous for employers to take them to work.

Many of those who arrived in Azerbaijan in the early 90s still have no status. It is noteworthy that their children are taken to the Azerbaijani army, but citizenship is not granted to them.

In mixed families the problem is that family members - not citizens (mother or father of the child) must on a quarterly basis travel to Georgia and then back to enter Azerbaijan.

In addition, if Georgian Azeris receive a permit for temporary or even permanent residence for 5 years, they still have no chance to obtain citizenship of Azerbaijan.

This policy is motivated by the Azerbaijani authorities to prevent the mass exodus of Azerbaijanis from Georgia.

However, in this case, the Azerbaijani authorities should assist in addressing the socio-economic problems of Azerbaijanis in Georgia, to encourage investment, create businesses and help them earn money.

The authors of the appeal hope that the head of Azerbaijan will help in solving these problems. -04C-