Ali Babayev: "Azerbaijanis, residing in Georgia, remain second-grade people in the eyes of official Tbilisi"

"2008 has become a difficult year for the entire Georgia, including, Azerbaijanis, residing there.

The thing is that the internal political crisis, which began in Georgia in 2007, was not settled though led to the conduction of urgent presidential and parliamentary elections in 2007, while the external political crisis in the relations with Russia led to the August war in South Ossetia, ending in a heavy defeat of Georgia and loss of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, said chairman of the Georgian Azerbaijanis Congress Ali Babayev, according to Novosti-Azerbaijan.

He said as for the state of ethnic Azerbaijanis, residing in Georgia, in period of presidential and parliamentary elections, the representatives of official Tbilisi intimidated and put pressure on Azerbaijani population of Georgia in an intention to make them support the candidates from powers.

"For example, I took part in the parliamentary elections as a majority candidate. But powers put pressure on my representatives and 22 of them rejected participation.

We, the Georgian Azerbaijanis, have fulfilled out duty before the Georgian people, not the Georgian powers, as during the August war we all were with Georgians. During the war we gathered about 200 tons of food aid for refugees from the hostility areas. Azerbaijani NGOs of Georgia held actions against war.

Our congress of Azerbaijanis of Georgia under financial support of SOCAR Georgian affiliate provided a humanitarian aid to the residents of two Azerbaijani villages in the conflict area - Levitan and Tedotsmind. When Georgia needs electricity, gas and humanitarian aid, Georgian powers always appeal to Azerbaijan and official Baku always supports Georgia, considering it to be its strategic partner.

Unfortunately, in spite it all, Azerbaijanis in Georgia remain the second-grade people in the eyes of official Tbilisi. Official Tbilisi recalls us only when Georgian powers need us to support them in elections, though Georgian Azerbaijanis are also the citizens of this country, like representatives of other nations, residing in Georgia and they have the same constitutional rights", announced Babayev.