ALOVSAT ALIYEV: "AZERBAIJAN WILL NOT BE ALONE IN FACING THE THREAT OF DEMOGRAPHIC CATASTROPHE, WHICH EMERGED IN THE REGION DUE TO RUSSIA’S EMPIRE AMBITIONS"

Today.Az
13 August 2008
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with Alovsat Aliyev, head of the Center of legal
assistance to migrants of Azerbaijan.

– How can the Russian-Georgian military conflict influence the
migration processes in the South Caucasus region?

– First of all, we are now witnessing Russia’s open aggression against
Georgia. The area of military actions has already been moved from
the South Ossetian zone inside Georgia, which is a direct violation
of the territorial integrity of Georgia by Russia, longing to seize
control over the entire South Caucasus.

The currently obvious attempt to occupy Georgia just demonstrates that
Russia still considers the former USSR republics to be its property,
but not independent states. This is a real flag of distress for the
whole South Caucasus region, including for Azerbaijan, which should
understand the Kremlin’s message: Nagorno Karabakh’s fate is in our
hands and we will always support separatism.

Russia’s conduct creates a great risk of significant demographic
problems in the South Caucasus region, as first refugees from Georgia
has already arrived in Azerbaijan. Naturally, Gergian refugees,
arriving to Azerbaijan are not men of the call-up age, but are women,
elderly people and children, who fell victims of Russia’s aggression.

I think that this flow of refugees from Georgia to Azerbaijan may
increase with Russia’s continuing annexation of Georgian territory. At
the same time, Azerbaijani citizens, residing in regions neighboring
Georgia may also move, as mass migration and refugees is one of the
main elements of war. It is the war declared to Georgia by Russia,
which is thus threatening the security of entire South Caucasus region.

– Is Azerbaijan ready for receipt of so many refugees from Georgia?

– Our country has sufficient experience in settling migration
problems. As we all remember that Azerbaijan managed to settle
about a million of refugees and internally displaced persons, who
were deprived of their homes in the result of Armenian aggression,
encouraged by Russia, against our country.

At the moment there is no threat that the flow of refugees from
Georgia will be so large. Anyway, I think Azerbaijan will cope with
these flows. Our country will not be alone in facing the threat of
the demographic catastrophe, which emerged in our region due to the
empire ambitions of Russia, ready for the open annexation of a small
neighbor in order to meet them.

– Russia’s anti-Georgian actions are not limited by annexation. For
example, the Russian movement against illegal immigration is compiling
the list of flats, where Georgians live "illegally". Movement leader
Alexander Belov noted that upon the completion of this action, the
lists may be submitted to the law-enforcement bodies, if the government
decides to expel the citizens of this country from Russia. Are these
actions of the movement lawful?

– These are absolutely lawless actions by the movement and the open
violation of human rights, as there are sufficient number of structures
in Russia, which regulate the migration processes in the country and
there is no need for the movement’s actions. These actions have all
signs of inciting national enmity and this is considered a crime.

Naturally, considering the growth of xenophobia and nationalism
in Russia, no one can reject possible anti-Georgian hysteria in
Russia. But I would recommend to all persons of Georgian nationality,
who face the violation of their rights and fall victims of nationalism
in Russia, fix each fact of the kind and file a claim against those,
responsible for it.

Thus, they will be able to add arguments to official Tbilisi, which
declares the Kremlin’s intention to terminate the freedom-loving
Georgian people.
From: Baghdasarian