| Russian settlers, possibly Molokans, in the Mugan steppe of Azerbaijan (between 1905 and 1915) |
| Total population |
|---|
| 144,000 (2003 census)[1] |
| Regions with significant populations |
| Baku, Ganja, Sumgayit, Lankaran |
| Languages |
| Religion |
| Related ethnic groups |
|
Russians and Azerbaijanis |
Russians in Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycanda ruslar, Russian: Русские в Азербайджане) - are the second largest ethnic minority in Azerbaijan. As the largest Russian diaspora in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia, the Russian community in Azerbaijan also comprises one of the largest Russian populations outside of Russia. [2][3] Including Ukrainians, the East Slavic community of Azerbaijan has a population of approximately 200,000, approximately 2% of the total population of Azerbaijan.
Since their arrival at the end of the eighteenth century, the Russian community has played an important role in all spheres of life, particularly during the Soviet period, especially in the capital the city of Baku.
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Although a Cossack outpost near Lankaran existed in 1795, the first Russian civilian settlers in Azerbaijan arrived between 1830 and 1850, after the ratification of the Treaty of Turkmenchay. In 1832, the forced transmigration of Russian dissenters from the interior provinces of Russia to the Transcaucasus region began.[4] In the mid-1830s Russians from the provinces of Tambov, Voronezh, and Samara began to arrive in the Shamakhi and Shusha districts of Azerbaijan, establishing the settlements of Vel, Privolnoye, Prishib, and Nikolaevka Ivanovka.[5][6] For some time, "sectarians" were forbidden to settle in cities. These settlers were largely exiled Old Believers, Molokans, Dukhobors, Geres, subbotniks, and Baptists exiled from Saratovm, Tambov, Astrakhan, and other provinces. In 1859 they were allowed to settle in Baku.[6] According to census records, by 1897, the Russian-speaking population of Baku Province was 73,632;[7] another large population of Russians was centered around Yelizavetpol, modern Ganja, with a population of 14,146.[8]
In the second half of the nineteenth century there was an unauthorized settlement has "title" Russian Orthodox, mostly landless peasants from European Russia. This process has become widespread after the legalization of such migration by a special decree of 15 April 1899 as well. In 1914 there was a large population of Russians in both Baku and Yelizavetpol and the provinces bordering with counties Erivan province, the most large groups were in the Goychay Shemakhin and Lankaran districts of Baku province and the province of the same name Yellizavetpol County[9].
The favorable economic situation in Baku attracted many people from all over the Russian Empire. The Russian population in Baku grew from around 37,400 in 1897 to 57,000 in 1903 and reached 76,300 by 1913.
The Inter-ethnic conflicts in the South Caucasus that accompanied the Georgian, Armenian, and Azerbaijani declarations of independence in 1918 greatly impacted the Russian population. Later Bolshevik formations on the Mugan led to the departure of the Russian population of the region North Caucasus. Less than half of them returned to the 1921 in[6]. Russian parties were represented in the parliament of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic up to Sovietization of Azerbaijan in 1920.
Migration trends continued and the Soviet time, when in Azerbaijan (mainly in the city) moved qualified professionals from other parts of the Soviet Union. Russian remained the largest ethnic group in Baku, according to the Census 1926 and 1939 period. In Ganja Russian population amounted to 8.2% in 1926. Overall, 26.6% of the total urban population of Azerbaijan in 1926 and 35.7% - in 1939 were Russian. The last massive wave of Russian migration in Azerbaijan was observed in 1949, in connection with the development of the industrial city of Sumqayit north of Baku.
Russian population met with disbelief and subsequent activation of the rise to power by the National Democratic Azerbaijani Popular Front Party in the early 1990s, although the beginning of Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict local Russian community organizations unanimously supported the position of Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh.[10]. The deterioration of the Azerbaijani-Russian relations and the ensuing anti-Russian propaganda of the Popular Front played a role in non-ultimate concern of the Russian population for the future of Azerbaijan. And although, according to the then Russian ambassador to Azerbaijan Shonii Walter, the new government did not conduct a policy of survival of the Russian population, the press and in the mouths of some party leaders supported the nationalist feelings by mentioning Russia as an ally of Armenia in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict and power, sought to deprive Azerbaijan of its newfound independence[10].
The events of Black January, the economic downturn, and the war with Armenia, coupled with growing pessimism and psychological discomfort led to the exodus of Russian-speaking population of Azerbaijan. Between 1989 and 1999, the Russian population fell from 392,000 to 142,000.
According to the 1999 census, Russians comprised 7% of the population of Baku--approximately 120,000 of 1.7 million people. This is significantly lower than in the middle of the twentieth century when Russians comprised about a third of the population.
Smaller concentrations of Russians, including Cossacks, live in Sumgait, Ganja, Khachmas, Mingechaur, and Shirvan. Additionally, small Russian communities, some the descendants of exiles and Old Believers, live in a number of villages throughout the country including Ivanovka in the Ismayilli Region; Slavyanka Gorelski and Novoivanovka in the Kedabek Area; Chuhuryurt and Kyzmeydan Nagarahana in the Shemakhin Area. Approximately 500 Russians live in the the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan.
Dynamics of the Russian population in Azerbaijan:
| 1926[11] | 1939[12] | 1959[13] | 1970[14] | 1979[15] | 1989[16] | 1999[17] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 220,545 | 528,318 | 501,282 | 510,059 | 475,255 | 392,304 | 141,700 |
Russian language is the first language of more than 150,000 Azerbaijanis, predominantly ethnic Russians and Russified Azerbaijanis, but also Ukrainians, Jews, and other minorities. In 1994, 38% of Azerbaijanis spoke Russian fluently as a second language.[18]
In the first half of the nineteenth century, Russian colonization of the South Caucasus introduced the Russian language to the territory of modern Azerbaijan. By 1830 there were schools teaching Russian in the cities of Shusha, Baku, Elizabethpol (Ganja), and Shemakha; later schools were established in Quba, Ordubad, and Zagatala. Education in Russian was unpopular among Azerbaijanis until 1887, when Habib Beg Makhmudbekov and Sultan Majid Ganizade founded the first Russian-Azerbaijani School in Baku. A secular school with instruction in both Russian and Azerbaijani, its programs were consistent with the cultural values and traditions of the Muslim population.[19] Eventually 240 such schools, including a women's college founded in 1901, were established prior to the "Sovietization" of the South Caucasus.[20] Ihe first Russian-Azerbaijani reference library opened in 1894.[21] In 1918, during the short period of the Azerbaijan's independence, the government declared Azerbaijani the official language, but the use of Russian in government documents continued.[22]
In the Soviet Era, the large Russian population in Baku, increased access to Russian literature, and the improved opportunities afforded to Russian speakers contributed to intensive "Russification" of the population in Baku. By the middle of the twentieth century, the city had become a supra-ethnic and cosmopolitan, uniting people of Russian, Azerbaijani, Armenian, Jewish, and other cultures.[23][24][25] The widespread use of Russian meant that some Azerbaijanis considered Russian their native language.[26] In 1970, 57,500 Azerbaijanis (1.3%) called Russian as their native language.[27]
The first works by Azerbaijani authors in Russian appeared in the nineteenth century. In 1883 Ahmed Bey Javanshir wrote a historical sketch in Russian entitled "On the Political status of Karabakh Khanate between 1745-1805."
Ismail Bey Kutkashensko and Yusif Vezir Chemenzeminli published original compositions in Russian in the years before the Revolution. The great champion of the Russian language among the Azerbaijani population was playwright Mirza Fatali Akhundov, founder of Azerbaijani Drama and Theatre.
Russian-language Azeri literature continued to develop throughout the Soviet era. Its outstanding representatives are Imran Gasimov, Hasan Seyidbayli, Magsud, Rustam Ibragimbekov, and Alla Akhundova among others.[28]
In 2003, Russian-Azerbaijani writers "Ray" and the Moscow branch of the Writers Union of Azerbaijan was established. In 2004, an association of writers and poets of "Commonwealth Literature" was established.
Since the second half of the nineteenth century, Russian folk and pop songs have appeared in repertoires of Bulbul, Muslim Magomayev, Rashid Behbudov Polad Bülbüloğlu, Flora Kerimova, the group "Qaya" and many others. Even after independence from Soviet Union Azerbaijani singers such as Aygun Kazimova have continued to write and perform songs in Russian.
During the Soviet era, Azerbaijanfilm produced dozens of feature-length and documentary films in Russian, including famous films like The Telephone, Don't Worry, I'm With You, Asif, Vasif, Agasif and Exam. Films in Russian continue to be produced in Azerbaijan in the post-Soviet era.[29]
Outside of the capital, the use of Russian sharply declined after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Similarly, the Russian-speaking subculture in Baku experienced strong decline due to emigration of a large numbers of Russians. Nevertheless the Russian language continues to feature prominently in the daily life of people in Baku.[30] As in Soviet times, today the use of Russian in Azerbaijan is concentrated among the intellectuals and "elites" of the nation, however, a survey conducted by the Eurasia Heritage Foundation ranked Azerbaijan among former Soviet Republics with the worst level of knowledge of Russian, along with Armenia, Georgia, Lithuania, and Tajikistan.[31]
In 2002, President Heydar Aliyev issued a decree establishing Azerbaijani as the sole language of government--shop signs, stationery, and printing in Russian were replaced with Azerbaijani.[32] At the same time compulsory teaching of Russian in schools was made optional.
In 2007, by decree of the National Broadcasting Council, live broadcasting of Russian TV channels ceased. Officially, this action was undertaken to protect Azerbaijan's national frequencies, which were declared a "national treasure of the country," from the influence of foreign media.[33] It was rumored however, that the main reason was to eliminate the alleged pro-Armenian orientation of Russian TV channels covering the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.[34]
In 2008 the government banned foreign languages broadcasts on Azerbaijani television and radio channels, except for a daily newscast in Russian.[35] This measure faced strong opposition from the media and public.[36][37][38][39][40] Dissenters argued that Azerbaijan still has a large Russian-speaking community, pointing to the success of the Russian version of the popular TV show "What? Where? When ?".[41][42][43] Ultimately an exception was made for Russian programming, but Azeri subtitles are required.[44] Similarly, the Azerbaijani radio station "Europa Plus," continues broadcasting partially in Russian.
Despite the significantly strengthened the position of the Azerbaijani language in the post-Soviet era, several Russian language periodicals continue to be published in Baku including the "Mirror", "Echo", "Baku Worker", "HSE", and "New Era." The Association of Russian Writers is also active.
The Russian dialect spoken in Azerbaijan differs from standard Russian due to the influence of the Azerbaijani language spoken throughout the country. At the phonetic level, this influence can be seen specifically in the initial lengthening of vowels,[45] a sharp rise in intonation at the end of a question,[46] and the addition of "d" and "g" affricates[47]. At the lexical level, a number of predominantly vernacular and slang terms of both Azerbaijani and Russian origin have gradually penetrated into print media. Some of the words were included in the online dictionary of Russian dialect "Languages of Russian cities" including: "Demyankov" ("eggplant"), "domashnik" ("slipper"), "sobirun" ("get-together"), "dzhigalit" ("cheat"), "syarfovat "(" be profitable "), and " balashka "(" child ")[48].
| “ | Azerbaijan is our motherland. The country for all citizens, regardless of their nationality and religion, everyone is equal, and we - Russians, will do everything for the development and prosperity of Azerbaijan. ~ President of the Russian community Mikhail Zabelin[49] | ” |
The Russian Community of Azerbaijan was established on 5 May, 1993 and has about 70,000 members. [50] The Chairman, MP Azerbaijani parliament Mikhail Zabelin, is a member of the Board of the International Council of Russian Compatriots. The community is active in most of the country, operating 12 regional organizations in Baku and 48 district and city branches throughout Azerbaijan. The community has republican status.
The Russian Community founded the Azerbaijan on Russia Educational Center, which became the Baku branch of Moscow International Open University. Currently there are more than 900 students.
There are more than 300 schools across the country, including 18 local high schools and 38 secondary specialized schools that provide instruction in Russian.
On 13 June, 2000 in Baku, Azerbaijan on the basis of Pedagogical Institute of Russian Language and Literature Akhundov was founded by Baku Slavic University[51].
On November 24, 2009 in the capital of Azerbaijan, the first post-Soviet space "House of the Russian book" was opened and at the opening ceremony which was attended by the head of the Presidential Administration of Russia Sergei Naryshkin.[52]
The majority of Russians in Azerbaijan are adherents of Orthodox Christianity although a considerable number identify as atheist. The first Russian Orthodox church in Baku was built in 1815.[53] In 1905, the Baku Eparchy, today the Baku and Caspian Eparchy, was established; it currently oversees five subordinate churches. Outside of Baku there are Russian Orthodox Churches exists in Ganja and Khachmaz. There are officially registered communities of Molokans in Baku, Sumgait, and Shamakhi.[54].
Azerbaijan is a secular country without an official state religion, the majority of the population is Shia Muslim. While the conflict with majority-Christian Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, March Days, and the Khojaly Massacre created anti-Armenian, it has not engendered anti-Christian sentiment.[55] Kōichirō Matsuura describes Azerbaijan as a "country that should be example to world with its tolerance".[56]
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