THE WAR AFFECTED AZERBAIJANIANS OF GEORGIA

    Five Azerbaijanians have been wounded during the Russian-Georgian conflict. The Azerbaijanians living in Georgia are a part of the Georgian society. As well as some of the citizens of Georgia, Azerbaijanians also have very negatively apprehended actions of northern neighbor, and have risen on native land protection. According to the adviser of the president of Georgia for ethnic questions of Mubariz Karayev more than 100 Azerbaijanians participated in the Georgian-Russian war. Karayev says that the Ministry of Defence of Georgia for active actions, and bravery will award hard wounded Runar Gusejnov and Babek Ahmedov but the time is not specified.
    Besides it, Azerbaijanians living Georgia carried out various actions against Russian aggression. So, on 22nd of August the Azerbaijan youth from Gardabani region (approximately 200 people), has carried out the action under the slogan «Stop Russia» in Igoeti near Gori. Many Azerbaijanians participated in the action «Live chain» as well.
    From the very first days of the Russian aggression against Georgia, the press secretary of the Azerbaijani Minister of Foreign Affaires Khazar Ibrahim declares that the Azerbaijani governments strong support for Georgia.
    Mubariz Karayev agrees with a position of the Azerbaijani government regarding to the Georgian-Russian conflict. As he said, the government of Georgia, and local Azerbaijanians highly appreciate a policy conducted by Azerbaijan. Karayev says that, «The Azerbaijan companies working in Georgia led by the State Oil Company (SOCAR) were one of the first to assist refugees».
    Public Organization Civil Integration Foundation (CIF) headed by local Azerbaijanian Zaur Khalilov, exists since 2004 year, to defend rights of ethnic minorities, and maintain their integration into the Georgian society. According to Khalilov, Azerbaijanians were the most active among other ethnic groups of Georgia during the Georgian-Russian war. «They have felt on themselves this war the same as other citizens of Georgia. All Azerbaijanians who have been drafted to reserve had gone to a zone of military operations. The student of the law faculty of Tbilisi State University (TSU) Runar Guseynov has been hard wounded during the military operations. For his heroism the speaker of Georgian parliament David Bakradze has presented him the computer, and the university has released him from payment of tuition fee in a Master`s program for one year,» said Khalilov. Moreover, CIF has conducted several humanitarian actions and particularly the one to help and support refugees in Kakhety. According to Khalilov, refugees lodged here, especially in Sagarejo were very grateful local Azerbaijanians supported them in hard times. Chairman CIF, Khalilov says that some Azerbaijan organizations and the companies assisted refugees simultaneously. Others as the Cultural Center of Azerbaijanians did it separately.
    «CIF was one of the first initiators, demanded to sign the statement, on behalf of ethnic and religious minority condemning aggression of Russia during the first hours of the conflict». According to Khalilov, the Azerbaijani families have very seriously felt on themselves complexities of this war, and conversations in families were absolutely adequate,» said Khalilov. «Tbilisi and Marneuli was bombed, and people understood that someone wants to enter into their house as not asked guest,» he added.
    As Azerbaijanian Zaur Halilov is not so satisfied with support of the Azerbaijan to Georgia. The truth he understand that it was promoted by the certain reasons. «At the beginning of conflict Azerbaijan one of the first has reacted, but then has a little departed aside. Certainly, we wanted, that Azerbaijan was more active. But, basically everyone understood that Azerbaijan, just as Ukraine could be the following. We understand that Azerbaijan has a problem in Karabakh. I heard that Azerbaijan has rendered humanitarian aid, has allocated some amount of money, said Khalilov. The citizen of Tbilisi Alexander Kurbanov says that during the war Azerbaijanis didnt leave the native land. «At the beginning of the conflict I was in Azerbaijan and when came back to Tbilisi on border there were many Georgians, rather than Azerbaijanians. As far as I know, there is a lot of Azerbaijanis from Marneuli have been called in war, and among them there were my friends,» said Kurbanov. Sasha tells that his family very much worried about him. He voluntarily was registered in reserve, but in two hours after that, reserve was dismissed.
    The student of philological faculty of Tbilisi State University Nani Kerimova says that she together with a family and friends gathered, to go on the sea. But because of war has been compelled to remain in Tbilisi.
    «Family was not in panic, though neighbors wanted leave somewhere. My uncle was called to reserve, but was not sent to the zone of military operations. But many of my friends were in a conflict zone. My Georgian friends with pride said to me that there were many Azerbaijanis with them. If would cause, I was ready to go as nurse to the war,» said Kerimova.
    According to the Deputy of Georgian parliament Ramin Bayramov Azerbaijanis could, and should participate in these processes, including the military operations. «The dominant role of Azerbaijanians has consisted in rendering aid to the IDPs. Azerbaijanians living in Kvemo Kartli and other regions of Georgia participated in helping process. Unfortunately it is necessary to notice that serious problem was created by the Russian mass media. Azerbaijanians do not know a State language, which is Georgian and they basically received the information on events from the Russian television channels. Russian television channels deformed the information and misinformed the public,» said Bayramov.
    Ramin Bayramov says that the president of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili has highly appreciated support, which Azerbaijan has rendered to Georgia on its hard times. «On 16th of September acting in parliament, president Saakashvili has loudly declared that the president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev was with us, and it is not the first case when we feel this support. Certainly, all of us understand that it was very difficult and for Azerbaijan which has identical problems», - noted Bayramov.
    21 years old student of TSU Yusuf Ismailov also has been called to reserve from first minutes of the conflict, and was in immediate military operations in Tshinvali region. He said, that he was not able to contact his family members. «There was such situation when we were under the fire, it was difficult to put everything into words. Parents were worried, especially mum», - said Ismailov.
    As he said there were moments when the guys bristled with anxiety, and it could affect all battalion very badly. Therefore, when the regular army has started to recede, half of reservists were released. Yusuf was one of the last 150 reservists, which have left a zone of the military operations. «I do not know, it is bad or it is good, but representatives of other nationalities were not visible. I cannot tell that they ran out, or it has allowed leaving the positions. But my Ukrainian partner has openly told me the skin is more expensive, than this war», - says Ismailov.
    At the beginning of conflict transportation was organized for those who is afraid and wanted to leave a zone of military operations. According to Ismailov, there were cases when reservists left the positions. «Two reservists from our battalion of, without any warning, with ammunition and a fire-arms have left the positions, and we have learnt it only after muster. Because of a bad connection within 30 minutes we could not specify their location. Then we learnt that they are already in peace territory. And in Tbilisi police have detained them, and have with drawn in an unknown direction», Ismailov said. Yusuf is grateful to his commander who in those hard times did not allow them to panic. «Our leader was the field commander, former Afghan warrior. He was very rigid person during the conflict, and because of him we have survived», - Ismailov said.