28 July 2009, 22:40
Azerbaijan refuses to let in foreigners who visited Nagorny Karabakh
The persons who have a NKR visa in their passport can not enter Azerbaijan. The Azeri MoFA has announced that, at present, the list of representatives of different countries who visited Nagorny Karabakh and the organizations which work with its authorities is being revised.
For reference, it is considered in Azerbaijan that people visiting Nagorny Karabakh with such visa do it illegally. In this connection the foreigner who, in the opinion of Azerbaijan, has illegally visited Nagorny Karabakh, will be refused a second visa to enter Azerbaijan. According to the Azeri authorities which do not recognize the results of the referendum conducted there 18 years ago, this is the only way for Azerbaijan to prevent foreigners from coming to Karabakh.
The list of visitors to Nagorny Karabakh is submitted to appropriate bodies of Azerbaijan, writes "Bakililar.AZ" agency. This prohibition is extended to everyone, including show business representatives and sportsmen.
It should be noted that the rule is already applied in Azerbaijan. For instance, Ghedas Sarochka, press-secretary of the Lithuanian football club "Ekranas" was expelled from Azerbaijan several days ago due to his trip to Nagorny Karabakh. He had to return to his country only because he had an NKR visa in his passport, writes the "NEWS.am" agency.
Meanwhile, as the "Caucasian Knot" reported earlier, more than 7,000 people from scores of countries of the world visited Karabakh during 2008. Most of them are tourists from USA, France, Canada, Russia, Iran, Great Britain. They mostly visit historical and architectural monuments and monasteries, such as Amaras (4-19 centuries), Dadivank (4-13 centuries), Gandzasar (13 century), as well as the ancient Azokh cave.
Note that Azeri MPs also object to the trips of Nagorny Karabakh leadership abroad.
