Assa-Irada,
15, May 2008

Ethnic Lezgin Russian citizens living in two Azerbaijani northern villages located on the country's 50 km border with the republic of Daghestan are seeking their residential areas to be recognized as Russia's enclave.

A total of 230 people reside in the Khrakhoba and Uryanoba villages. The land was temporarily transferred as pasture areas to the Daghestan autonomy on a decision passed by the Soviet Union's ruling body, the Council of Ministers, in 1954. In 1984, the government of the Azerbaijan Republic which was then part of the USSR extended the validity of the document until 2004. Villagers say that although the paper has expired, there are no documents stipulating the return of the areas to Baku by Moscow or Azerbaijan's officially regaining these areas.

The Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry has said Khrakhoba and Uryanoba are now recognized as illegally settled areas and offers for these residents to either receive Azerbaijani citizenship or be granted the status of migrants.

Villagers claim, however, that there are ample grounds for the areas to be transferred to Russia. They indicated that the Russian Federation's Constitution is valid there, while local residents are allowed to vote in elections held in Russia, and local youngsters undergo military service in the neighboring country. Moreover, most of the local population has close relatives in Daghestan.

Lezgins' efforts have raised eyebrows in Baku, which says the areas should be temporarily transferred to Russia's disposal. Baku says the settlement of Russian citizens in the region is unlawful and local residents should undergo temporarily registration in Azerbaijan.

"If Khrakhoba and Uryanoba residents apply for Azerbaijani citizenship, Baku is ready to review the appeals," the Foreign Ministry spokesman Khazar Ibrahim told the press Thursday. "This is not an issue of international law, but Azerbaijan's internal administration matter. Settlement in the villages is illegal, and we will prevent it," he said.

A Radio Liberty reporter visited the areas several days ago and was told that Uryanoba residents have already been temporarily registered in the Khachmaz district. In Khrakhoba, 11 residents have undergone the procedure