Hundreds of Azerbaijanis await border opening in Dagestan

The lists for crossing the Russian-Azerbaijani border in Dagestan include about 1000 Azerbaijani citizens; most of them live temporally in rented housing, Afig Allakhverdiev, a public figure and the head of the BIZ (WE) Fund for Support and Development of Socially Significant Programmes and Projects, has informed.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the citizens willing to return to Azerbaijan are accommodated in the territory of the "Ogonyok" children's camp located in the Kaitag District of Dagestan. The problem of returning home arose among Azerbaijani citizens in April 2020, when the border was closed due to the pandemic.

As of September 29, the "Ogonyok" camp housed 83 persons, a source from the press service of the Chief Department for Dagestan of the Russian Ministry for Emergencies (MfE) told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "Groups of Azerbaijani citizens were sent across the Russian-Azerbaijani land border on September 6, 7 and 9; a total of 238 persons were sent in three days; 148 of them were sent from the 'Ogonyok' camp," the source has explained.

It is expected that the Russian-Azerbaijani land border will open on October 1, Afig Allakhverdiev, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. According to his story, his Fund receives calls from citizens of Azerbaijan every day, who are interested in the date of the opening of the Russian-Azerbaijani land border. Based on the number of incoming calls, up to 1000 people are waiting for the border opening in its vicinity, he believes. Mr Allakhverdiev has explained that many people prefer, while on the lists for crossing the border, living outside the "Ogonyok" and rent housing.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 30, 2021 at 01:00 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.