Over 200 Azerbaijani migrants detained in Derbent

205 Azerbaijani citizens were detained during a raid of the Federal Migration Service (FMS) in Derbent and are kept for four days in the gym of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Dagestan.

The MIA has clarified that 33 detainees stayed illegally in the territory of Russia, while other 172 migrants had no work permits. The migrants were engaged in Derbent in building houses within the third phase of the federal programme "Dilapidated Housing". The MIA spokesman has added that there was not enough room for detainees in the cells; therefore, they were placed into the gym belonging to the MIA.

"The local FMS conducted raids; some illegal migrants were set free: they will pay fines. Others will be deported," the “Life” quotes the spokesman of the MIA as saying.

Initially, the mass detention of Azerbaijani migrants in Dagestan was reported by one of the detainees. According to his story, 400 people were detained because of absence of proper documents.

"In fact, we are kept in prison for four days. Our documents may be illegal, but it doesn’t mean that we should be kept here without a court judgement. If we have wrong documents, let them deport us; however, they keep us in horrible conditions and claim money," the “Abzas.net” quoted one of the detainees.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.