Dagestanian Lezghins now refugees in Georgia

[Rusiko Amirejibi-Mullen]

Dagestanian Lezghins now refugees in Georgia

Gela Mtivlishvili, KakhetiHRIDC , November 4

Tens of Lezghins have come from Dagestan to Kakheti District, Georgia  
in the last few days. They are being sheltered with their relatives  
and acquaintances in Lezghian settlements (three villages in the  
Kvareli district). The North Caucasian refugees state that the  
situation in Makhachkala District and all of Dagestan has become  
tensed. The local law enforcers under the military government  
instruction are under duress recruiting young men between the ages of  
18-38 years old into army and those who resist serving are  
arrested.Magamed Khaibulaev, a Lezghin who has just arrived in  
Georgia, told us that no one gave any explanation on why the young men  
are being recruited. The Dagenstanians see some connection between the  
compulsory recruitment and Georgian-Russian conflict and military  
activities in the region of Ingushetia.?Compulsory recruitment started  
on October 20. Local law enforcers came to our houses and informed us  
that they were instructed to recruit young men. They gave us one day  
to prepare to join the army. We have heard that military groups are  
being formed in Dagestan. Some of the groups that are being formed are  
staffed with inexperienced green soldiers and they are then deployed  
to Tskhinvali, and those who had previously been in the army are sent  
to Ingushetia. Most men refuse to join the army and serve to do any  
military service. Those who failed to arrive to Georgia are hiding out  
in Dagestan. People are hiding in forests,? states our  
respondent.Another Lezghian man who declined from revealing his  
identity said that his brother A.M., 29 could not manage to escape and  
the police took him to force him to join the army.
?My brother and his two friends managed to escape from Makhachkala  
Military Commissariat. I spoke with my mother several days ago. She  
said my brother and his friends have been hiding in forest for over a  
week now. Criminal cases are opened for those putting up resistance to  
the police,? stated the inhabitant of Makhachkala.Some young Lizghians  
who have recently arrived to Georgia were actually born in Georgia,  
and some of them hold double citizenship, which gives them rights and  
responsibilities of both countries.Lezghians live in Tivi, Saruso and  
Chantliskuri- three villages of the Kvareli District