All-Russian Congress of Azerbaijanis urges Azerbaijanis in Russia not to succumb to provocations

"The Congress urged Azerbaijanis living in Russia not to yield to provocations and to avoid crowded places," ACA Moscow Branch Chairman Ilgar Hajiyev told Trend.

Criminal cases were launched after the riots under the articles of "hooliganism," "attempted murder" and "violence against the authorities," Russian Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying.

The Congress is in regular contact with local authorities and law enforcement agencies of the country and is working with members of the diaspora, warning them of possible provocations, Hajiyev said over the telephone from Moscow.

So far none of the information spread by the media about the Azerbaijanis killed or wounded in the riots in Moscow has been confirmed, he said.

The Russian Interior Ministry has denied the reports of Russian mass media that an Azerbaijani citizen died during yesterday's riots in Moscow.

"Information about a death of Azerbaijani citizen during the riots in Moscow on Wednesday evening contradicts reality," the Ministry told Trend on Thursday.

The "Govorit Moskva" radio station reported earlier that an Azerbaijani was killed in the riots.

Provocative activities aimed at destabilizing the situation are held in Moscow, but the Congress together with the local authorities is trying to protect compatriots from such actions, Hajiyev said.


/Trend/