Azerbaijani Diaspora vice president chides Russian MP over provocative statement "National diasporas are not mafia groups!"

Elnur Huseynov, vice-president of the Union of Azerbaijanis of Russia, has demanded an apology from State Duma Deputy Speaker Pyotr Tolstoy for calling national diasporas mafia structures, Gazeta.ru reports.

"Russia is a multinational country, it is also our homeland. We live here. I respect Tolstoy and I know him personally. National diasporas are not mafia groups. They are people who try to preserve their culture and customs on the territory of the Russian Federation, wherever they live," the newspaper quoted Huseynov as saying.

He also recalled the State Duma's approval of the law on national and cultural autonomy, which had the Russian president's signature. In his view, the MP is discrediting himself with his statements.

"I fundamentally disagree with what he said, and I don't think that such measures can be taken. I think he should apologise to all the people who were offended by his remarks. I myself am a victim of his remarks," the trade union vice president said.

Huseynov added that he would write to the State Duma and the commission on regulations for consideration of the parliamentarian's remarks. He also has plans for contact with the Federal Agency for Nationalities.

On 17 January, in response to information that the head of Russia's Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, had ordered a criminal case to be opened against the leader of the interregional Uzbek community "Vatandosh" Usman Baratov, Tolstoy described national diasporas and communities as legalised mafia structures.