Events on “National legal grounds of citizenship in the legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan” were held

In order to raise awareness of representatives from city, town and village territorial administrative units, foreigners and stateless persons in the field of migration legislation public awareness event on “National legal grounds of citizenship in the legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan” were held in Khachmaz and Shabran cities which are included to the service area of Khachmaz Regional Migration Department.

During the events in which broad information of the activity of and the works done by the State Migration Service was given it was noted that population of each state includes its citizens, as well as foreigners and stateless persons residing within its territory. One of the issues towards which State Migration Service has a sensitive approach within its competences is the solution of citizenship issues and problem arose in this area in the framework of requirements of country legislation. Issues related with implementation of state policy in migration sphere in the country, regulation of migration processes and relations occurred in this area, as well as legal status of foreigners and stateless persons in the Republic of Azerbaijan were brought to attention. Receipt of applications by the persons residing in the country on acquisition, restoration and revocation of citizenship of Azerbaijan and submission of gathered documents and reviews of relevant state authorities to Citizenship Issues Commission under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan to consider is one of the duties of the Service.

It was also emphasized that 1626 foreigners and stateless persons are have been adopted to the Citizenship of the Republic of Azerbaijan with the relevant Decrees of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan since the participation of State Migration Service in citizenship issues was ensured.

It was also mentioned at the events that for more grounded implementation of Service’s activity on citizenship issues establishment of person’s affiliation to the citizenship of the Republic of Azerbaijan was determined as a duty of the Service in accordance with the Decree No 457 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated from February 11, 2015.

Alongside with the abovementioned, one of the main steps taken in this direction was the “Rules for establishment of the citizenship of the Republic of Azerbaijan” approved with Decision №84 of Cabinet of Ministers dated from March 18, 2015. Provisions of the Convention “On eradication of statelessness” dated from August 30, 1961, as well as the Law “On citizenship of the Republic of Azerbaijan” are considered in the Rule while establishing person’s citizenship of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Thus, Item 4.3 of the Rules envisages such a significant provision that in case the absence of registration upon place of residence of persons, who were citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan (or SSR of Azerbaijan) until the date when the Law “On citizenship of the Republic of Azerbaijan” came into force (until October 7, 1998) and have not left the territory of the country, results in their statelessness, then their affiliation to citizenship of Azerbaijan is recognized. 

The rules also envisages solutions for the problems faced in provision of identity documents to children who lost parents and were deprived from parent care, persons served sentence in penitentiary facilities and military personnel enrolled in military service.

It was stressed that awareness raising events about preventing and eradicating statelessness in the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as documentation of persons with stateless status were continued by State Migration Service in the service areas of regional migration departments.

At the end questions interesting the participants were responded by the officials of the Service.

On the same day 17 of the persons who were revealed as a result of measures taken by the Khachmaz regional Migration department in the direction of legalization of foreigners and stateless persons illegally residing in the country, were received by the competent officials of SMS and they were explained the requirements of the legislation and submitted the list of relevant documents.