8-10 thousand Chechen refugees in Azerbaijan

More than 180,000 Chechens live outside Chechnya today, including 123,000 in Ingushetia, 8,000-10,000 in Azerbaijan, while the rest in Russian regions, says a spokesman of Russian ministry for federal, national and migration policy Igor Zadvornov.

He was speaking to a news conference at Russian embassy Wednesday.

Mr. Zadvornov added that Russian government is currently executing an extensive program of restoration of their houses in Chechnya and provision of allowances to them. RR1 billion will be allocated for restoration of private houses in 2001 alone. RR14.3 billion has already been allotted for economic and social rehabilitation in the Chechen republic, he said and added that the assistance would be provided only to those who return to Chechnya.

The main objective of Mr. Zadvornov’s visit to Baku is to try to lobby for the return of Chechens who have settled down in Azerbaijan. Regarding a recent statement by the widow of the ex-president of Chechnya Alla Dudayeva that Chechens allegedly have hard time in Azerbaijan, Mr. Zadvornov said Russian and Azeri officials do not share this view. “This is her personal opinion”, he said.

Touching upon the problems of two million Azeris living in Russia, Mr. Zadvornov indicated that the government is working on an official migration program in an effort to ensure free residence to everyone choosing to live in Russia.*