Alovsat Aliyev: "Our citizens mainly wish to migrate from Azerbaijan in a strive to improve their financial state"

- How would you comment on the results of the poll, conducted by Gallup service, according to which 28% of Azerbaijani citizens are ready to migrate from our country?

- First of all, about 35-40% of our citizens stated their intention to leave Azerbaijan several years ago. It means that the number of Azerbaijani residents, willing to leave their country, has declined as compared to previous years.

Nevertheless, in this case it is necessary to learn where in Azerbaijan and among which category of the population the current poll was held. I think, the percentage of those willing to quit Azerbaijan among the 18-35 age group is higher than among the representatives of other age groups. Moreover, the results of the poll in Baku or Sumgayit and even so more in the country's region differ dramatically. I think, if the poll was held among the residents of our country at the age of 18-36, living in Baku, the percentage would make 20%, while in the country's regions this indicator may top 30%.

- What are the main causes of the intention of so many Azerbaijani citizens to migrate from the country?

- Three main causes can be pointed as encouraging Azerbaijani citizens to leave the country.

By information we have, our citizens tend to leave the country to improve their financial state, ensure more stable and higher incomes. The incomes they have here are not enough for worthy living, therefore, they want to quit the country,

Another reason is the level of corruption in Azerbaijan. In the result, our citizens leave for Russia or Ukraine, where they do not have to pay here and there and where conditions for small and middle businesses are better than here in Azerbaijan.

And the third reason they point at to explain their willingness to leave the country is their intention to secure themselves in case hostilities are initiated in Nagorno Karabakh. This category of our citizens sell its property and tend to leave Azerbaijan for countries where there is no risk of hostilities.

- Don't they also want to quit because of their feeling of social and legal vulnerability, their understanding that one day they can not only be deprived of their means, but also be expelled from their own houses?

- Undoubtedly. This is a component of our life, which has become frequent and which strengthens the willingness of Azerbaijani people to leave. These moods among the population are strengthened by clear understanding of the absence of independent court system in Azerbaijan, which could defend them from arbitrariness of high ranking officials. Azerbaijanis not feeling protection of their state are obliged to live in a hope that their rights will be secured in their new motherland. This is painful and frustrating, but this is a reality.

- How can you explain that in line with the poll, Gallup conducted, 26% in Georgia and 23% citizens in Armenia strive for migrating from their country, though these countries also have great problems with human rights, unsettled territorial conflicts, not speaking of the problems in economic situation?

- Frankly speaking, the objectivity of the said poll is doubted, as simple statistics shows that greater number of appeals with request to provide political refuge in one of the Western countries were submitted from Armenia and Georgia, in comparison with Azerbaijan. In this conditions, the results of the poll, witnessing that the number of those willing to migrate from Armenia and Georgia are lower than in Azerbaijan, causes at least surprise.

/Day.Az/