Azeris in Georgia

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This article is about Azeris in Georgia. For Azeris in general, see the respective article.

According to the 2002 census, there are 284,761 ethnic Azeris living in Georgia. [1] They comprise 6.5% of Georgia's population (being its largest ethnic minority), inhabiting mostly rural parts of the country, mostly in Kvemo Kartli, Kakheti, Shida Kartli and Mtskheta-Mtianeti. There is a large Azeri community in the capital city of Tbilisi and smaller communities in other regions.[2]

Since Georgia regained its independence in 1991, many Azeris along with other minorities have faced a problem of social disintegration and underrepresentation in country's legislative, executive and judicial powers. Unlike urban Azeris of Tbilisi and Rustavi, rural Azeri population for the most part lacks knowledge of the official language - Georgian, which makes it harder for them to participate in many social areas.[3] Azeris in Georgia enjoy cultural autonomy, therefore the majority of them chooses to pursue secondary education in their native tongue. Graduates willing to be admitted to post-secondary institutions hence tend to leave for other countries, mainly Azerbaijan, where post-secondary education is available in either Azeri or Russian. Such isolation is furthered by the fact that many rural Azeris prefer to read newspapers published in Azeri and set up satellite dishes in order to be able to watch channels of neighbouring Azerbaijan, or establish their own community TV channels (such as Ellada TV, which functioned in Gardabani in 1995-99).[4]

Azeris are currently represented in the Parliament of Georgia by three deputies.[5] Being the biggest inhibitory factor, language barrier remains a major issue among Georgia's Azeri population. The government has launched various programs and projects in order to help Azeris integrate into the political life of the country.

Contents

[edit] Largest Communities

Only regions with 1,000 or more Azeris are listed below. The information is based on official figures from the 2002 population census.

Region Region's Azeri Population % of Region's Entire Population
Tbilisi (capital) 10,942 1.0
Kvemo Kartli 224,606 45.1
● Marneuli 98,245 83.1
● Gardabani 49,993 43.7
● Bolnisi 49,206 66.0
● Dmanisi 18,714 66.8
● Rustavi City 4,993 4.3
● Tsalka 1,992 9.5
● Tetritsq'aro 1,641 6.5
Kakheti 40,036 9.8
● Sagarejo 18,907 31.9
● Lagodekhi 11,392 22.3
● Telavi 8,378 12.4
● Dedoplistsq'aro 1,019 3.3
Shida Kartli 5,768 1.8
● Kaspi 3,962 7.6
● Kareli 8,378 2.3
Mtskheta-Mtianeti 2,248 1.8
● Mtskheta 2,236 3.4

[edit] Change in Population

The information below is based on official figures from the population censii of 1939, 1959, 1970, 1979, 1989[6] and 2002.

Year Georgia's Azeri Population % of Georgia's Entire Population
1939 188,058 5.3
1959 153,600 3.8
1970 217,758 4.6
1979 255,678 5.1
1989 307,556 5.7
2002 284,761 6.5

[edit] Famous Azeris of Georgia

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes and References

  1. ^ State Statistics Department of Georgia: 2002 census (retrieved 16 July 2006)
  2. ^ Alexander Kukhianidze, "Statistical Yearbook of Georgia, 2005: Population" (607kb, Microsoft Word Document).
  3. ^ Ethnic Minorities of Eastern and Southern Georgia by Alexander Kukhianidze (in Russian)
  4. ^ Estimating Potential of Kvemo Kartli (in Russian)
  5. ^ Members of Parliament - Parliament of Georgia.
  6. ^ Demoscope Weekly - Appendix (in Russian). Last updated 15 August 2006 (retrieved 25 August 2006)

[edit] External links
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