Protest held in front of Azerbaijan Russian community's office in Baku

"The picket participants protested against the statements of the head of the Russian community, MP Mikhail Zabelin, who stated the need to attach the status of the second state language to Russian language in Azerbaijan", reports the source.

According to the action participants, article 155 of the country's constitution do not allow existence of the second state language.

In this connection, the protest participants adopted a resolution, stating that "The Public association of the Turkic movement considers that Mikhail Zabelin demonstrates open disrespect towards the legislation and people of Azerbaijan".

"We demand from Zabelin to apologize to the Azerbaijani people via mass media", says the resolution.

In turn, Zabelin announced that he has no information about holding a picket before the office of Russian community in Baku.

"I even have not heard about existence of such an organization. Nevertheless, I think we are a democratic state and everyone has a right to express his will", said Zabelin.

He noted that he had proposed the initiative of attaching the status of a state language to Russian language in May of this year.

"It is strange that the reaction to this announcement followed 1.5 months later. Moreover, proposing this initiative, I understand that it is impossible to implement it in the nearest future, as it requires at least a referendum.

I have proposed the initiative as the majority of the Azerbaijani population wishes it".