Trial over Azerbaijani citizens to begin in Dagestan in the coming days

Baku/03.08.20/Turan: Approximately 700 Azerbaijani citizens are expecting to return to their homeland in a tent camp in the Dagestan village of Kullar and its environs, said the Deputy Chairman of the Cultural Autonomy of Azerbaijanis of Russia in the Moscow region Afig Allahverdiyev. However, this did not happen despite assurances that the camp will be closed by August 1.

On July 1, it was reported that the Russian authorities would keep a field camp on the Dagestan-Azerbaijani border for another month. This was stated during the video-video conference of the head of Dagestan Vladimir Vasiliev with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. Vasiliev said that the problem cannot be solved with a weekly pass of 250 citizens in Azerbaijan.

Representatives of Azerbaijan motivate the restrictions on admission by the lack of medical personnel and the inability to test everyone. So far, there is no need to talk about the liquidation of the camp in Kullar.

As for the investigation into the case of those arrested during the protests in Kullar on July 15, 10 Azerbaijanis, brought to justice, will soon appear before the court. They are accused of resisting the police and causing damage to property. The total amount of damage was estimated at 1 million 400 thousand rubles and with the help of donations from the diaspora, it was compensated. The arrested are kept in the Derbent detention center. “Our goal is to save those arrested from imprisonment and suspended sentences. But the most difficult thing is that the majority do not have lawyers,” Allahverdiyev said.

Human rights activist Avtandil Mammadli believes that the lack of lawyers is because of financial difficulties. According to him, the physical pressure on the arrested was only on the day of the arrest. Citizens of Azerbaijan can be imprisoned from 8  to 10 years.   In his opinion, lawyers can only shorten the term of the accused. Therefore, the state must also intervene.

Deputy Razi Nurullayev also believes that with the current rate of return, the issue will not be finally resolved. One of the options for resolving the issue is testing citizens on the territory of Russia and then a pass to the country. He also considers it important for the government to provide legal assistance to those arrested in Dagestan. “I believe that the government should realize its responsibility, protect its citizens, take legal steps to protect them,” the deputy said.  –06D-