On 15 June, a violent clash between Russian law enforcement bodies and Azerbaijani citizens occurred in the village of Kullar in Dagestan.
The Investigative Department of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that seven law enforcement officers suffered injuries and five official vehicles were damaged during the clashes. According to the press service of the Investigative Department, about 400 Azerbaijani citizens, who were waiting to cross the border, entered the Kavkaz federal highway and tried to block the movement of vehicles. “Azerbaijani citizens disobeyed police officers who tried to stop their actions, threw stones and other objects at them, causing them to be [injured], thereby using violence against the authorities that was not dangerous to life and health,” the press service explained.
A source for the Azerbaijani news agency Turan, on the other hand, spoke on the use of police brutality against the demonstrators. “The police blocked the way for the protesters and tried to detain them. However, people were desperately struggling to get the detainees back from the Russian police. Then the security forces used tear gas, and in response, people began throwing objects at them. Arriving as reinforcement, the Russian Guard military could not cope with the protesters. After that, they started shooting into the air and the people were beaten with batons,” the source said.
The acting Head of the Derbent region of Dagestan Fuad Shikhiyev said that law enforcement officers detained 93 Azerbaijani citizens after the incident. He also said that 155 citizens of Azerbaijan will return to their homeland. According to Shikhiyev, the incident occurred when Azerbaijani citizens received a list of 120 people who could return to their homeland in the coming days when organizing another special corridor through the customs checkpoint "Yarag-Kazmalyar" on the Russian-Azerbaijani border in Dagestan. The lists formed by the Azerbaijani side did not include every citizen, which outraged the people.
The assistant of the President of Azerbaijan Hikmet Hajiyev stated that Azerbaijan regretted that the incident occurred. “With the coordination of the respective structures of Azerbaijan and Russia, the return of Azerbaijani citizens is provided within the weekly schedule. As part of this schedule, 120 people crossed through the Samur customs checkpoint on 19 May, 131 on 26 May, 122 on 2 June , and 130 on 9 June and 150 on 16 June. Azerbaijani citizens gathered at the Samur checkpoint must abide by the established rules, not violate the principles of priority and not interfere with the activities of the relevant state structures. We urge citizens to show understanding,” he emphasized.
The tensions on the Azerbaijan-Russian border began on 3 June, when Azerbaijani citizens waiting to return to their homeland complained about the poor conditions on the crossing and started a hunger strike (Caucasus Watch reported).
