Number Of Azerbaijani Citizens, Asking For Asylum Abroad, Increased By 36%

Most Azerbaijani citizens wish to move to EU countries. So, if in 2008 there had been 1,691 applications for asylum, then in 2009 the figure was 2319. Results for the last 2 years by citizens of Azerbaijan received 4010 petitions.

Last year the number of Armenian citizens, who submitted the request for asylum has increased by 43% compared to 2008.

In Georgia increased by as much as 102%, that is, in fact the number wishing to leave the country in 2009 doubled compared to 2008.

The most attractive country for residence were the United States (in 2009, asylum in the United States asked 49 thousand people), followed by France (41 thousand), Canada (33 thousand), UK (29 thousand), Germany (27,5 thousand).

Dagestan Hopes Tourists Will Replace Terrorists

While Ramzan Kadyrov talks of annihilating militants in Chechnya, President of Dagestan, Mr Magomedsalam Magomedov insists that his focus is on creating jobs and improving living standards in Dagestan, one of Russia’s poorest regions, to drain support for Muslim extremism.

Dagestan has hopes of exploiting the tourist potential of its picturesque location on the shores of the Caspian Sea and the rich ethnic diversity of the 33 peoples who comprise its population of 2.6 million. But the terrorist threat hangs over its investment plans.

Mr Magomedov admitted that official corruption and abuses by security forces had fuelled radicalism and encouraged young men to “go into the forest” and join Wahabbist militants fighting to establish an Islamist regime. “The more the authorities make mistakes, the less is their chance to be popular and that gives greater opportunities to our enemies to criticise us.”
“I work according to one principle, that all our actions must be on legal grounds.

“We categorically don’t want to permit extrajudicial punishments or illegal detentions. Such operations unfortunately happened in the past and perhaps even now, but every one of those events is a matter for our individual attention and scrutiny.
“We will not allow innocent people to be treated harshly. This is also grounds for bandits to say that the authorities do not respect their people and their rights. We will take care of and defend the rights of our citizens.”

Terrorist Attack – Explosions 15 Meters From Concert Hall

Three people were killed and at least 20 injured in an explosion in the city of Stavropol in southern Russia. An explosive device in the car went off 15 meters from a concert hall in the city center.

“A terrorist attack is being considered as one of the versions of what occurred,” Skripka said, adding that all the dead were women. An investigation is underway.

“I think that we are right in sending our best people to the Caucasus,” ..There are currently around 160 Investigation Committee officers there.

The Stavropol Territory is the largest region in the North Caucasus Federal District, but has remained largely free of violence that occurs frequently in the neighboring republics of Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan.