Azerbaijani Diaspora: Azeris Not Involved in Iran Protests

Casting a cautious eye to Azerbaijan's southern neighbor, Iran, the head of an Azerbaijani Diaspora organization claimed on June 18 that ethnic Azeris in Iran are not taking part in Tehran demonstrations against the reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

"I contacted leaders of the national liberation movement that is based in South Azerbaijan," Sabir Rustamkhanli, co-chairperson of the World Azerbaijanis Congress, declared in reference to four northern Iranian regions inhabited predominantly by ethnic Azeris. "They say what is happening in Iran is nothing but [a] struggle for power by two political forces."

Ahmadinejad's rival, Mir Hossein Mousavi, is an ethnic Azeri. Based on the official results, Mousavi won two ethnic Azeri provinces in Iran's June 12 presidential race, but finished with less than 30 percent of the overall vote. Ahmadinejad secured a 63 percent tally, based on the now-disputed official results.

Baku, which has close ties with the World Azerbaijanis Congress, has recognized Ahmadinejad's reelection, but made no comment about the election protests, now in their fifth day.