Baku, March 17, AZERTAC
“According to reports on social networks, the driving license which Emil Arzangulyan obtained in the Russian Federation indicates his place of birth as Nagorno-Karabakh. Under the instruction of Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry, the country’s embassy in Moscow appealed to the Russian Foreign Ministry and Interior Ministry in this regard,” Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Hikmat Hajiyev said.
Russia, in its response, showed respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, expressing its commitment to resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by peaceful means, Hajiyev said.
“The statement says that the information Emil Arzangulyan disseminated through social networks has nothing to do with Russia’s official position on this issue”.
The statement also says that in accordance with the rules on registration and issuance of driver's licenses approved by Order No. 365 dated 13 May 2009 of the Russian Interior Ministry, the place of birth in driving licenses is indicated with the name of larger administrative-territorial unit.
“Given the fact that Arzangulyan was born in Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO) of Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic (ASSR), the phrase “Nagorno-Karabakh” mentioned in his driving license signifies NKAO of ASSR,” the Russian MFA underlined.