Azerbaijanis' inflow in Kullar camp increases

The number of Azerbaijanis waiting to be sent home in the border camp in Dagestan has exceeded 1100. The number of those crossing the Russian-Azerbaijani border every week should be doubled, said one of the camp residents.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that residents of a temporary accommodation centre (TAC) arranged near the village of Kullar are sent home in groups every week. By August 10, the number of people staying at the tent camp had grown up to 700.

The people willing to cross the Russian-Azerbaijani border continue to arrive at the border area near the village of Kullar, Afig Allakhverdiev, a deputy chairman of the regional National Cultural Autonomy of Azerbaijanis in the Moscow Region, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. According to his story, as of August 17, the total number of people waiting in the tent and spontaneous camps exceeded 1100. Allakhverdiev has linked the increase in the number of arrivals to the camp with the end of seasonal works and the closure of enterprises due to the epidemic.

A spontaneous camp has appeared around the official camp near Kullar, inhabited by those, for whom there is not enough room in the tents. Besides, some Azerbaijani citizens are sheltered by local residents; someone lives in hotels. Azerbaijanis are sent home in groups every week on Tuesdays.

In his conversation with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, Ikhtiyar Shabanov, a camp resident, has complained about a small number of people crossing the border weekly in formed groups, and suggested to increase the number in each group from 250 to 500, or to increase the number of groups, 250 people in each, from one to two per week.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 18, 2020 at 00:16 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.