22/05/2013 19:05
“Reports about criminalization of contacts with Armenians are a hoax”
The Azerbaijani media reported recently that Azerbaijan will adopt a law, under which criminal cases will be opened against foreign tourists wishing to enter Karabakh, as well as against persons who establish close contacts with Armenians. In the opinion of Sargis Asatrian, an expert on Azerbaijan, these reports are just a hoax spread by Azerbaijani authorities.
“This hoax is directed mainly at Azerbaijanis as Aliyev has the problem of unifying the population ahead of the elections,” S. Asatrian noted.
In his words, citizens who were in touch with Armenians have always received “special treatment” in Azerbaijan.
“Even without any law, these people are the center of special services’ attention,” Sargis Asatrian said, stressing that even if such a law is adopted, it will happen without any fuss.
“Many experts in Azerbaijan say that such a law would rule out a peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict”, Asatrian noted.
It should be mentioned that the official website of Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani parliament) also refuted the information about adoption of the abovementioned law.