The consequences of the shooting at the Moscow Neolith cafe on February 14 between Azerbaijan and Chechnya natives continue to be discussed at various levels. Baku and Grozny described the conflict as a provocation, calling for mutual respect, patience and mutual understanding. All agreed that the incident could not be represented as an inter-ethnic conflict, and that the Azerbaijani and Chechen peoples will always have friendly relations.
Today, Moscow’s President Hotel hosted a meeting of Chechen and Azerbaijani aksakals, which was attended by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Russian Federation Polad Bulbuloglu, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Chechen Republic, Russian State Duma deputy Adam Delimkhanov, Permanent Representative of the Chechen Republic in Moscow Bekhan Taimaskhanov, representatives of diasporas and clergy.
"Our distinguished leaders, Ramzan Akhmatovich and Ilham Alievich, were concerned about the current situation from the very first moment. It is very unpleasant for all of us," Adam Delimkhanov said. "Ramzan Akhmatovich immediately called me and Bekkhan Taymakhsanov’s office, instructing to take the situation under control and investigate the causes of the incident. When the news of the incident spread, we had started addressing this issue from the first minute. We brought the situation fully under control and the conflict didn't spread further ... Today we know who did it and why. They wanted to spoil and exploit our relations. For this special situation they used the situation and presented it from a certain angle. The Moscow Internal Affairs authorities and all law enforcement agencies are working on this issue.
"Let me thank you for such an timely intervention. I know that you were abroad when it happened. Today we had a very constructive meeting," Polad Bulbul oglu said. "I stand by your every word. I want to express my great gratitude to our leaders. Ilham Heydarovich immediately took control of the situation, gave all the necessary instructions, the presidential aide made a political statement on this issue the next day. Friendship and cooperation between the Russian Federation and Azerbaijan, between the Russian regions and Azerbaijan, traditional historical ties have been proven over the past years. History has proved that it is impossible to break our friendship, although third forces put efforts to do it, but we will resist such attempts, relying on the will of our leaders, on the will of our peoples, on the tested friendship between the Chechen and Azerbaijani peoples."
In addition, Polad Bulbul oglu stressed that those who fomented the conflict tried to stir up not only Moscow, but the whole of Russia: "However, both our consulate and our regional diaspora leader also took action promptly. Taking this opportunity, I would like to thank everyone who took part in resolving the situation these days, those who did not let this provocation to develop. Those who do it, and those who incite it, should be punished."
Addressing the meeting, social and religious activist, member of the Public Council under the permanent representative of Chechnya Shahid-Khadzhi Gazabayev, the rector of Moscow State University of Humanities and Economics, Professor Vagif Bayramov supported the actions of the leadership of Azerbaijan and Chechnya, and called on representatives of both peoples to prevent such situations in the future. The meeting was also attended by Russian State Duma Deputy Magomed Selimkhanov, member of the Council of Federation of the Russian Federal Assembly Suliman Geremeev and other representatives of both sides. The Moscow authorities were represented by head of the Department for Regional Security and Anti-Corruption Vladimir Regnatsky, acting head of the Department of National Policy and Interregional Relations Ivan Petrov, the head of the Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs in Moscow, Major General Sergei Kuzmin.
