| 33333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333332 Ö The Human Rights Center of Azerbaijan Ö Ö 150-9, S.Safaroglu Str., 370000 Baku; tel/fax (7-8922) 987555 Ö Ö E-mail RELCOM: soros@hrcenter.baku.az Ö S333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333ú Report to the Tbilisi meeting of independent expert on migration, Summer 1995 REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS IN AZERBAIJAN ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Background ~~~~~~~~~~ Azerbaijan is the greatest Transcaucasian republic with the population in 7,5 mln. people. Among them are Azeris (71%), Talishes (11%), Russians (6%), Lezghis (4%), Armenians (1,6%) etc. For the present there are reportedly 233 thousands refugees and 665 thousands displaced persons (DP). From Azerbaijan emigrated about 300-350 thousands Armenians and about 200 thousands Russians. Refugees ~~~~~~~~ Azerbaijan was the first republic of former USSR came face with the problem of coming refugees since 1988. According official information, on January 25'88 first hundreds Azeris were forced to leave the Kafan city in Armenia because of mass disorders against Azeris, have made by the supporters of joining to Armenia Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO) of Azerbaijan. In Winter 1988 the eviction of Azerbaijan population from Armenia became the mass deportation with the participation of local powers. The peak of that took place on November-December 1988. During the next year practically all Azeris left Armenia. (Last Azeri village Nuvedy in Megry region was kept till Spring 1991). According our information, in 1988-91 more than 180 thousands of Azeris, 11 thousands Kurds-Muslims and 3,5 thousands Russians have left Armenia and placed in Azerbaijan. Besides that in 1989 more than 4,5 thousands of refugees (Azerbaijanian and Caucasian highlander) came to Azerbaijan Republic from the city Novy Uzen in Kazakhstan, and also about 50 thousands of Meskhetian Turks from Uzbekistan who became the victims of the interethnic pogroms. The part of these refugees left Azerbaijan because of different reasons, and now their number reduced to 233 thousands. The Armenians evacuated to Armenia after the pogrom in Sumgayit city on February 1988 started the migration wave from Azerbaijan. They left finally the big cities in early 1990, and now there are only 30 thousands in Baku and about 120 thousands in the Nagorno-Karabakh zone. The total number of Armenian refugees is estimated in 300-350 thousands. Displaced persons ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Since February 1988, when began the disorders and separatist meetings of Armenian in NKAO, in Azerbaijan appeared the first forced deplaced persons (DP), at first Azeris from the city Stepanakert (Khankendi), then Armenians displaced from the cities Sumgayit and Shusha. In May 1992 was finished the full ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh from Azeris which before conflict were about 50 thousands. In middle May 1992 the operations went out of former NKAO. It made DP's the populations of 7 nearest regions (Lachin, Kelbadjar, Agdam, Fizuli, Qubatli, Jebrayil, Zangilan) occupied by Armenian armed troops. With that a great number of Kurds of Azerbaijan, who lived compactly in Lachin, partly Kelbadjar and Qubatli regions, became DP. The end of the operations in May 1994 stopped the inflow of the DP. UNHCR published in 1994 the report on Azerbaijan according which there are 778 thousands DP. Other sources, which are close related with problem, reported the less number, about 650-665 thousands DP. The revision of the State Committee for Refugees and DP's on March 1995 made known, that the official number of refugees was more to 82,296 people than the real number. Meskhetian Turks ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We are guests of Georgia, and it is the reason, why I want to report separately about Meskhetian Turks, or "Ahiska Turkler", as they called themselves. They are an ethnical group in about 200 thousands people for to day, who was deported from Georgia in 1944 to the Soviet Middle Asia. So, that was forced migration, and these migrants are DP. The restrictions for the free movement were partially abolish in 1956, and already in 1958 the first 2,150 families came for living to Azerbaijan, near to mother land, Georgia. The total number of Turks came to Azerbaijan in 1958-62, is approximately 20-25 thousands. After the anti-Turk pogroms in Uzbekistan in June 1989 to Azerbaijan came 44-48 thousands more. The migrants of 1989 have from November 1991 the official status of refugees. Only 54 people were registered as DP. Former leaders of Georgia had the nationalist approach in the problem of returning the Meskhetians to Georgia. As the result, from Georgia were re-emigrated 160 families returned in 1970's. Now the situation changed, and the main problems are the lack of law basis and financial difficulties. Despite that, already 100 young Meskhetians returned from Azerbaijan to Georgia, and reportedly, there is a plan of returning 40 families more. The Meskhetian problems is unical, because it concerns most republics of former USSR. The leaders of Meskhetians are sure that only international pressing to Russia as successor of USSR, and the mass humanitarian aid could help to solve this problem. The frameworks of the problem ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In the beginning the status of displaced people from Armenia and Middle Asia as refugees was unrecognized by Soviet authorities. In spite of the mogration was between the formally undependent Soviet republics, they have not the official status of refugees. They were considered only as "persons temporary departed their permanent address" and deprived the international humanitarian aid till the collapse of USSR. The law "About the status of refugees and forcedly displaced persons" was adopted by the Parliament only on September 29'92. But even 2.5 years later the official status had to March 1'95 only 31.066 DP or 8% from the total number of DP adults (406.755) and only 22.990 from the refuges (10%). There is not the special legal difference between privileges of refugees, who are defined as people migrated from other countries, and DP, who are displaced into Azerbaijan. They are getting the equal allowance and all benefits, common for the pensioners, children etc. The difference is only in the civil rights and duties, because unnaturalized refugees are formally the foreigners (in reality, it is not practicize for the refugees from Armenia). But in the practice in some regions were happened that refugees did not got the humanitarian aid as DP. There is also other law acts related with DP and refugees, for example, prohibition of the punishment for the violation of passport registration, tax privileges, etc. The governmental institution, which is busy by this problem, is the State Committee for the Work with Refugees and DP (so-called "Dovletqachqinkom"), which has the status of Ministry. The structure of the Ministers' Cabinet has also the separate Department for the Work with Refugees and DP. There are also the Parliamental Commission on Refugees and Connections with Compatriots and the State Councellor for the Humanitarian Affairs in the Presidential Staff, who are busy for the migration problem by their duties. In 1993 was established the State Commission for the Foreign Technical and Humanitarian Aid. In this sphere works also half-governmental Azerbaijani Society of Red Crescent and Azerbaijani Refugees' Society. "Non-forced" migration ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ There are some migration processes, which are without the generally accepted frameworks of "forced migration", but they are forced by the same reasons. For example, the Azeris DP occuped the flats of Russians and forced them to go to Russia. According the public opinion Russia is guilty in the Karabakhi conflict. The Federal Migration Service of Russia gave such people the official status of refuge, recognizing the forced character of this migration process. And Azerbaijani government do not recognized that as the problem, although in 1990-1995 from the republic went about 200 thousands Russians and at least 42 thousands former citizens of Azerbaijan (including Russians) became the official refugees. Other sample is the fate of Udin community of Oguz (former Vartashen) region. Udins, who are the small ethnic autochton group of Azerbaijan, were baptized in the Armenian Apostelic Church and most them have the Armenian names and relatives among Armenians. Now they are persecuted by local authorities and from 300 Udin families of Oguz remainded about 35. The others migrated to Russia or to Nidge village in neighbour Qabala region where they live compactly. Georgian sources reported that the average number of Azeri emigration from 1989 is about 10 hundreds yearly, and half of them prefered Azerbaijan. Of course, the main reason is hard economical situation, but there are also many evidences that local Azeris are under the great national pressing: to discharge from work, hostage-taking, attacks by armed robbers Svan and Armenian nationalities, discrimination while the land distribution. Authorities of both republic do not see the reason to give them the status of refugees, though make active work to return them to Georgia. As was said on 1994 by the head of the executive power of Dmanisi region of Georgia Otari Aslanishvili, after his appeal to the Azeri refugees come back only to this region returned 96 families or 347 persons. The social problems ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The displaced people traditionally prefer to live in the cities, because there their problems can be decided more really. in the end of 1994 about 402,735 DP or 61.6% lived in cities and 43.1% lived in four big cities. From Summer 1993 began the building of the tent camps and the tendency to the compact settlement of DP. The reasons were following: the ending of dwelling fund (empty flats, hostels, guest-houses and health camps), closing Baku by military power for unregistrated citizens in September 1993, also the comfort of the distribution of humanitarian aid. To Winter 1994/95 in 13,5 thousands tents were settled about 80 thousands DP. Among them in South group of 8 camps (8,000 tents) settled about 47 thousands DP. Since March 1994 were built by EC also 20 standard settlements with 200 houses for 2 families in each one. There were settled about 8 thousands families (40 thousands people). Ten thousands houses for DP and refugees were built and put into exploitation for the account of republican budget in 1994. Despite that, the dwelling problem is still actual. Even now in some regions of republic are the adobe cottages. And on the contrary, the big part of the built houses (136 individual houses and 1,173 flats) were given illegally to other people, who are not refugees or DP. Other big social problem of DP is the unemployment. It touches less the refugees than DP, because refugees from Armenia got a work places of the escaped Armenians. Among DP, according the different information sources, are from 303 to 352 thousands DP are employable and the level of enemployment is from 30.5% to 41.6%. The main reason of the great unemployment of DP is its professional structure. The great part of DP (59.7%) are the agriculture workers and now they have not the work in cities. According official information, in 1994 got the unemployment benefit less than 1.6% DP and only 3,340 people have got the official status of unemployees. More than half DP is unemployable: under age (259,816 or 40%) and pensioners (86,795 or 13.3%). According general opinion, expressed in press and in the Parlament of Azerbaijan, the state benefit for the refugees can not cover of their minimal needs. So, DP have the income: pencioners (mainly), children, students, unemployers without status - 8,500 manat ($1.89), unemployers with official status - 9,600 manat ($2.13). At the same time the living wage on the end 1994 made 41,180 manat ($9.15), and the bread price is for the present 850 manat ($0.20) for 1 kg and more. So, the benefit is not enough even for the food. It is not accedentally a great number of sickness among DP especially in tent camps. According official information, the death rate of new-born refugees is more than 6-8 times. Wide-spride are the infectious illnesses. Among 111,043 children till 5 years old only 8,300 go to the preschool institution. At the same time about 400 school-age children mainly from families lived in farms do not study. So, no one the main need of DP (work, food, public health, education) is not supported adequately by government of Azerbaijan. Therefore external humanitarion aid is important. Humanitarian aid ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The foreign humanitarian aid to DP became real only after Azerbaijan found the independence at the end 1991 and after the republic joined to UN and CSCE in 1992. After the 4 resolutions accepted in 1993 by UN Security Council on Nagorno-Rarabakh was finally recognized the fact of occupation the territory of Azerbaijan and the presense of DP. A great impuls to humanitarian aid gave also the resolution on November 22'93 "International Aid to the refugees and DP in Azerbaijan" accepted by the Third Committee of UN General Assembly. To day in Azerbaijan work the branches of tens foreign and international humanitarian organizations. The main problem is the control for the distribution of coming humanitarian aid. It is more effective only in the tent camps and settlements, where DP live compactly and are in the charge of the concrete international organization. It is recognized officially the facts of mass thefts of humanitarian aid by the representatives of local powers and governmental organizations. It is enough to mention the case of about 82 thousands "superfluous" DP. The big obstacle for the real assistance to the refugees is the passiveness of US as the main state-donor because of so-called Section 907 of "U.S. Freedom Support Act" accepted in Autumn 1992 by US Congress. This amendment forbid the direct assistance of American government to the only republic of former USSR, Azerbaijan, because it blockades the transport communications to neighbour enemy Armenia. On June 29'95 the US Congress confirmed these restrictions. Simultaneously, US assistance is not forbided to Russia, the army of which bombed the civil population of Chechnia, to Tadjikistan, where the victims of communist regime became hundred thousands people, to the other post-totalitarian states of former USSR. On the Spring 1994 turned out paradoxical situation, when from humanitarian assistance of US to Trans5aucasia Armenia has got 50,1%, Georgia - 47%, and more suffered Azerbaijan has got only 2,9%. Among donors of humanitarian aid to Azerbaijan at the end of March 1994 USA has took only 9th place. The US government was forced to make the detour, financing purposefully the projects of American and international NGO in this field. Till to end 1994 was made by such way the aid at least on 23-24 million dollars. But the effect of that was reduced, because of the absense of direct intergovernmental efforts for the justice distribution of the aid. The perspectives of the return ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The troubles of current peace Azerbaijani-Armenian negotia- tions were programmed from the begin. Armenians stated that Armenia is not the conflict side and the war is between Azerbaijan (7,5 mln. people) and self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (120 thousands people or in 3 time less than the population of the well-known Sumqayit city). With that the main conflict side is protecting from possible international sanctions. There is forgotten not only simple logics, but also the enclave problem. The "neutral" Armenia occuped directly 3 Azerbaijani enclaves (Karki, Askipara and Barkhudarli), and Azerbaijan also seizured one Armenian enclave (Artsvashen). These plays in the mighty puppet "mini-states", successfully fighting against new independent republics, is characterly for the Russian foreign police in former USSR in the whole. Pridnestrovye in Moldova, Abkhazia in Georgia, Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan, the attempts to organized such conflicts in Lietuva, Estonia, in Crimea - all of them are the result of one imperialist policy. The goal of it we can understand here, in Georgia, observing the correlation between the Russian-Georgian relations and changes in Abkhazian problem. Therefore I do not believe to the rapid returning the displaced people to the conflict area. The only way is the pressure of world community to Russia, as it was in Baltia, and the realization of 4 resolutions of UN Security Council by the sanctions against the agressor state. In other case we will have in Transcaucasia a new "Northern Cyprus". Eldar Zeynalov, Director of HRCA. | |
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