Azeris in Georgia (country)
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- This article is about Azeris in Georgia. For Azeris in general, see the respective article.
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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]
There were some tensions in late 1980s in the Azeri-populated regions of Georgia, however they never escalated to armed clashes.[3] 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.[4] The majority of Azeris in Georgia 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).[5]
Azeris are currently represented in the 235-seat Parliament of Georgia by three deputies.[6] Being the biggest inhibitory factor, language barrier remains a major issue among Georgia's Azeri population.[7] The government has launched various programs and projects in order to help Azeris integrate into the political life of the country.[8]
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[edit] History
The city of Tiflis is known as one of the important centres for Azeris' cultural development. Molla Vali Vidadi, an Azeri poet from the 18th century, was known as King Erekle II's court poet at some point.[9] Mirza Fatali Akhundov, the Azerbaijani enlightened reformist, novelist and dramatist, the pioneer of the theatrical performance in the East, lived and contributed to literature in Tiflis in the mid-19th century, along with his Ganja-native teacher Mirza Shafi Vazeh.[10] The famous Azeri satirical magazine Molla Nasraddin edited by Jalil Mammadguluzadeh was being published in Tiflis in 1906–1917. Azeri newspapers from earlier periods (such as Ziya, Keshkul and Sharg-i rus in the 19th and early 20th century) were also printed in the publishing houses of Tiflis.[11] The Transcaucasian Teachers Seminary which trained professional teachers for secular primary Azeri schools was located in Gori. Folk singer Bulbuljan among others spent 30 years of his life living and performing in Tiflis. Tiflis was also the hometown and academic locale to some of the most prominent Azerbaijani singers such as Rashid Behbudov and Shovkat Mammadova (the first Azeri female opera singer, 1897–1981), as well as to the first professional Azeri female painter Geysar Kashiyeva (1893–1972), and the first Azeri female pianist Khadija Gayibova (1883–1938).
[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.
[edit] Change in PopulationThe information below is based on official figures from the population censūs of 1939, 1959, 1970, 1979, 1989[12] and 2002.
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