The main state symbol of the country is its borders. Their stable state, the absence of problems in territorial relations with neighboring states are signs that the state has taken place. At present, relations between Russia and Azerbaijan are largely based on the successful process of delimiting borders. The countries in this work had to face the presence of disputed territories and the interests of divided peoples.
Historical reference
The Caucasus has always been a place where the interests of many states clashed. As a result, various international forces that have no relation to these territories constantly intervened in relations between peoples in the Caucasus region. Such countries were Germany, Austria, England, Persia, Turkey. However, Russia had the greatest influence on the formation of the modern borders of the Caucasus. At the same time, in the process of forming the state border between Russia and Azerbaijan, the interests of the governments, elites and peoples living here were taken into account.
The beginning of the formation of borders
The formation of the state-administrative structure of the Caucasus region began in the nineteenth century. It was then that the basic configuration of the currently existing border divisions was laid.
Russia, taking into account the sacred attitude of local residents to the territories in which they live, made a distinction, taking into account the interests of ethnic groups and nationalities that existed in the Caucasus at that time. The geographical features of the regions, the desire to create and maintain the integrity of the regions were also taken into account.
It was from this time that administrative borders took shape, which actually remained unchanged to the present. With individual countries they have turned into state ones.
Border characterization
The border of Russia with Azerbaijan has the status of state. Its length is 327.6 kilometers. At sea it is 22.4 kilometers. The length of the land border between Russia and Azerbaijan is 272.4 kilometers. Moreover, along the median lines of the rivers, it has a length of 55.2 kilometers.
It is on the border of Russia with Azerbaijan that the southernmost point of the Russian Federation is located.
The border areas of these two states are mainly populated by Lezgins, Tsakhurs, Aguls, Avars, and Azerbaijanis.
Until 1991, the border lines dividing Russia and Azerbaijan had administrative status. They divided the Dagestan ASSR and the Azerbaijan USSR.
Communication between Russia and Azerbaijan occurs through the intersection of several checkpoints. Through them, railway, automobile, pedestrian movement is carried out. The land border is divided into three sections:
- the lowland stretches along the Samur River Delta and along the Caspian Lowland;
- foothill plot, on it basically the division goes along the Samur River;
- the mountain section runs along the ridges of the mountain Caucasus.
Establishment of the state border
The existing state border between Russia and Azerbaijan is established on the basis of the provisions of the agreement, which was signed by the leaders of the two countries on October 3, 2010 in the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku. It entered into force on July 18, 2011 after an exchange of relevant instruments of ratification. Since that time, she began to be equipped on the flat areas with barriers, namely barbed wire, sensors and video surveillance cameras.
Use of the Samur River
Until now, one of the conflict situations is the problem of water use of the Samur River. This aquatic artery of the border population is actively used to irrigate its crops.
The conflict dates back to 1952, when at the request of the Azerbaijan SSR in the territory of the Magaramkent Dagestan region the Samur hydroelectric complex was built. After the USSR ceased to exist, Azerbaijan announced that this hydraulic structure is its property, although it was located on the territory of the Russian Federation.
Attempts to resolve this problem began at the end of the twentieth century, when Dagestan began to raise questions about the need for equal sharing of the water resources of this river, which did not suit the Azerbaijani side. Moreover, Azerbaijan made attempts to increase water withdrawal from the river, for which it began to expand the Absheron-Samur Canal. He motivated his actions by the need to provide the capital with scarce drinking water - the cities of Baku and the city of Sumgait, as well as large economic losses associated with the reduction of irrigated crops in the Caspian lowland.
In August 2010, a new agreement was signed between the states on the rational use of water from the Samur River. Why the border was set in the middle of the waterworks. At the same time, the contracting parties determined the sizes of water intake in equal proportions. However, as practice shows, these agreements are not being implemented at present, which continues to be topics of periodic proceedings between countries.
The issue of exclaves
Also, the acute issues left after the signing of the agreement on establishing the Russian border with Azerbaijan include the problem of two Russian exclaves: the village of Uryan-Uba and the village of Khrakh-Uba. These settlements, the number of inhabitants in which totaled about four hundred people in 2010, went far into Azerbaijan. According to the agreement, the territories on which they are located were transferred by Russia to this state. The problem of the inhabitants was to be solved by making independent decisions on the choice of citizenship.
However, this process stretched out in time; at present, it has not been finally resolved. As a result of which, conflict situations periodically arise, the reason for which is various insinuations based on nationalist feelings, as well as various rumors about the alleged harassment of the inhabitants of these villages.
Border Crossing Points
The procedure and places for crossing the border between Russia and Azerbaijan are determined by a joint agreement of October 7, 1995, which was signed by the heads of government of these states.
As part of the implementation of this Agreement, checkpoints have been established throughout the entire border of Russia with Azerbaijan.
For international passenger, automobile and freight traffic:
- railway checkpoint: “Derbent” from the Russian side - “Yalama” from the side of Azerbaijan;
- it is possible to cross the Russia-Azerbaijan border by car at automobile checkpoints: Yarag-Kazmalyar (RD, Magaramkent district, village of Yagar-Kazmalyar) from Russia - Samur from Azerbaijan (Kusar district, Samur village, Azerbaijan Republic ); "Tagirkent-Kazmalyar" (RD, Magaramkent district, village of Tagirkent-Kazmalyar) from the Russian Federation - "Khanoba" (Khachmaz district, village of Hanoba) from the AR.
Also, this agreement established places where a simplified procedure for crossing the state border is provided, which was done in the interests of historical, enclave-border residents:
- Novo-Fila from Russia - Shirvanovka from Azerbaijan; "Chah-Chah" on Russian territory - "Zuhul" on Azerbaijani territory; "Garah" from the Russian side - "Zuhul" from Azerbaijan.
All border checkpoints are open around the clock.