Azerbaijan is calling for Russian pogroms
The so-called "Karabakh Liberation Organization" established in Azerbaijan has issued a statement condemning "the attacks on Azerbaijanis" living in Russia. The statement sent to the Russian Embassy in Azerbaijan, reads that "if the attacks at Azerbaijanis" in Russia will not stop, then "adequate measures” will be undertaken towards the Russians living in Azerbaijan, reports Azerbaijani portal "Haqqin.az", in an article entitled "Baku calls for Russian pogroms."
As the portal notes, "KLO" led by Akif Nagi stands close to the pro-government circles in Azerbaijan. The statement said that if Orhan Zeynalov’s falt is proved, then he should be punished. Otherwise, the KLO says, it is inadmissible to declare Orhan Zeynalov a criminal, and "to start smear campaign against Azerbaijan on this basis and to nurture anti-Azerbaijani sentiments in Russia."
"We inform the Russian press that ethnic Russians live on Azerbaijani territory for more than 200 years, and no pressure is used against them," the KLO notes.
The statement also reads that "the patience of the Azerbaijani people is not infinite" and Russia should not force them to undertake "adequate measures."
"Azerbaijanis leave for Russia legally and comply with all the laws of the Russian Federation. If they do not want to see Azerbaijanis there, then let them undertake appropriate laws and the Azerbaijanis will no longer go there," the statement reads.
Azerbaijani organization has also put forward a number of requirements in order to prevent ethnic clashes. Thus, according to the "KLO", the Azerbaijani government should review its relationship with Russia, "which holds an anti-Azerbaijani policy."
"KLO" demands from the Russian government to "stop this anti-Azerbaijani campaign immediately, otherwise the Government of Azerbaijan will be responsible for all the appropriate steps taken against Russians in Azerbaijan."
In addition, according to the Azerbaijani organizations, the Russian government should compensate the damage caused to Azerbaijanis during the riots, and the police officers who used violence against Orhan Zeynalov should be punished.
KLO also states that law enforcement agencies and the head of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs in particular have "biased stance against Orhan Zeynalov", thus he should be extradited and tried in Azerbaijan in this regard.
Concluding, the "Karabakh Liberation Organization" of Azerbaijan warns for one more time that in case if the "anti-Azerbaijani campaign in Russia" is not put to an end, then "adequate measures" will be undertaken in respect of Russians in Azerbaijan.
According to the census held in 1989, the number of Russian population in Azerbaijan amounted to 392 thousand. During 20 years, the number of Russians in Azerbaijan decreased by more than 3 times. According to the census of 2009, the population amounts of 119 thousand.
On Thursday, October 10, in a fight, presumably a native of Azerbaijani, has stabbed and killed Yegor Shcherbakov, a Moscow resident. On Saturday evening, residents of that district came out onto to the streets, demanding to find the killer. On Sunday, a crowd of nationalists together with residents of West Biryulevo district sympathizing them, around 1,000 people, organized a pogrom at the vegetable market where many immigrants from the CIS republics work. Special purpose police unit arrived at the scene, and detained about 380 protestors. Six police officers suffered during the arrest including the Special purpose police unit battalion commander who was seriously injured.
It is noteworthy that the girlfriend of the killed Yegor Shcherbakov noted on the air of "Moscow 24" that she is against the rallies and does not want to stir up ethnic conflict. At present investigation of Shcherbakov’s murder is under special control of the head of the Moscow police.
Later, the police began to conduct raids against the migrants. Thus, October 14, according to RIA "Novosti", 1,200 migrants have been detained during a police raid on Pokrovski vegetable market in Western Biryulevo in Moscow.
On October 15 the suspected murderer of Azerbaijani origin Orhan Zeynalov was arrested in Kolomna near Moscow.