Refugees and internally displaced persons in Azerbaijan
Encyclopedia
Azerbaijani SSR was the first republic of Soviet Union that faced the problem of refugees. Those people were the Azerbaijani inhabitants of Armenia.
According to the 1979 census, Azeris numbered 160,841 and constituted 5.3% of Armenia's population. Civil unrest in Nagorno-Karabakh in 1987 led to Azeris' being often harassed and forced to leave Armenia. On 25 January 1988, the first wave of Azeri refugees from Armenia settled in the city of Sumgait. Another major wave occurred in November 1988 as Azeris were either expelled by the nationalists and local or state authorities, or fled fearing for their lives. Violence took place as a result of ethnic conflicts; in November 1988, 25 Azeris were killed, according to Armenian sources (of those 20 in the town of Gugark
); and 217, according to Azerbaijani sources.
Thus, in 1988–91 the remaining Azeris were forced to flee primarily to Azerbaijan. It is impossible to determine the exact population numbers for Azeris in Armenia at the time of the conflict's escalation, since during the 1989 census forced Azeri migration from Armenia was already in progress. UNHCR's estimate is 200,000 persons.
According to Azerbaijani government at the time of the ceasefire in 1994 there were about 250,000 Azeri refugees from Armenia. According to the 1998 Citizenship Law
they are all eligible for citizenship. By the end of 2001, UNHCR estimated that most of them were believed to have naturalized or be in the process of doing so.
During the Nagorno-Karabakh War
, territories constituting former NKAO region of Azerbaijan and the seven adjacent rayons (some of them partly) were occupied by the Armenian forces. As a result, about 600 000 people had to leave their homes. Azerbaijan now has one of the highest numbers of IDPs per capita in the world. The IDPs are presented in all of the 76 administrative districts in Azerbaijan. Initially, most of them lived in tent camps and public buildings such as schools, hostels, and dormitories. Since 2001, the Government increased its efforts to solve IDPs' problems. In 2002, the construction of new settlements started, and by the end of 2007, all tent camps were abolished.
The Government of Azerbaijan with the help of the international community has started drafting a Framework Plan for the Return of IDPs to the occupied regions after the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict (The Great Return Programme).
to Central Asia
by Joseph Stalin
. One of the regions they resettled in was Fergana Valley
, Uzbekistan
. In 1989 interethnic violence occurred there triggering an evacuation of Meskhetian Turks from Uzbekistan. This group of refugees in Azerbaijan numbered about 50,000 people. According to the 1998 Citizenship Law they are all eligible for citizenship. By the end of 2001, UNHCR estimated that most of them were believed to have naturalized or be in the process of doing so.
The other major refugee groups are people from Chechnya
, Afghans and some Iranians and Iraqis.
there were 603,251 IDPs in Azerbaijan in March 2009. The majority has lives in and around Baku, as well as in Sumgayit. Significant numbers of
IDPs also live along the central-southern route of Fuzuli
-Aghdam-Agjabedi-Barda
-Mingechevir-Ganja
, the northern route of Shamakhi
-Ismailli
-Gabala
-Sheki
and the southern route of Sabirabad
-Saatli
-Imishli
-Beylagan
.
Refugees from Armenia
Gugark, Armenia
Gugark is a town in the Lori Province of Armenia.-References:* – World-Gazetteer.com...
); and 217, according to Azerbaijani sources.
Thus, in 1988–91 the remaining Azeris were forced to flee primarily to Azerbaijan. It is impossible to determine the exact population numbers for Azeris in Armenia at the time of the conflict's escalation, since during the 1989 census forced Azeri migration from Armenia was already in progress. UNHCR's estimate is 200,000 persons.
According to Azerbaijani government at the time of the ceasefire in 1994 there were about 250,000 Azeri refugees from Armenia. According to the 1998 Citizenship Law
Azerbaijani nationality law
The Azerbaijani nationality law is a nationality law which determines who is a citizen of Azerbaijan.-Current law:The current citizenship law is guided by the 1995 Constitution of Azerbaijan and, more importantly, the Law of Azerbaijan on Citizenship of the Republic of Azerbaijan, which was...
they are all eligible for citizenship. By the end of 2001, UNHCR estimated that most of them were believed to have naturalized or be in the process of doing so.
IDPs from Nagorno-Karabakh and the adjacent territories
Nagorno-Karabakh War
The Nagorno-Karabakh War was an armed conflict that took place from February 1988 to May 1994, in the small enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in southwestern Azerbaijan, between the majority ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh backed by the Republic of Armenia, and the Republic of Azerbaijan...
, territories constituting former NKAO region of Azerbaijan and the seven adjacent rayons (some of them partly) were occupied by the Armenian forces. As a result, about 600 000 people had to leave their homes. Azerbaijan now has one of the highest numbers of IDPs per capita in the world. The IDPs are presented in all of the 76 administrative districts in Azerbaijan. Initially, most of them lived in tent camps and public buildings such as schools, hostels, and dormitories. Since 2001, the Government increased its efforts to solve IDPs' problems. In 2002, the construction of new settlements started, and by the end of 2007, all tent camps were abolished.
The Government of Azerbaijan with the help of the international community has started drafting a Framework Plan for the Return of IDPs to the occupied regions after the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict (The Great Return Programme).
Other refugees and asylum seekers
In 1944 Meskhetian Turks were deported en masse from GeorgiaGeorgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
to Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
by Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
. One of the regions they resettled in was Fergana Valley
Fergana Valley
The Fergana Valley or Farghana Valley is a region in Central Asia spreading across eastern Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Divided across three subdivisions of the former Soviet Union, the valley is ethnically diverse, and in the early 21st century was the scene of ethnic conflict...
, Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
. In 1989 interethnic violence occurred there triggering an evacuation of Meskhetian Turks from Uzbekistan. This group of refugees in Azerbaijan numbered about 50,000 people. According to the 1998 Citizenship Law they are all eligible for citizenship. By the end of 2001, UNHCR estimated that most of them were believed to have naturalized or be in the process of doing so.
The other major refugee groups are people from Chechnya
Chechnya
The Chechen Republic , commonly referred to as Chechnya , also spelled Chechnia or Chechenia, sometimes referred to as Ichkeria , is a federal subject of Russia . It is located in the southeastern part of Europe in the Northern Caucasus mountains. The capital of the republic is the city of Grozny...
, Afghans and some Iranians and Iraqis.
Statistics
According to State Committee of Republic of Azerbaijan for Refugees and Internally Displaced PersonsState Committee of Republic of Azerbaijan for Refugees and IDPs
The State Committee of Republic of Azerbaijan for Refugees and IDPs is a governmental agency within the Cabinet of Azerbaijan in charge of regulation of the issues related to refugees and internally displaced persons in Azerbaijan, including humanitarian aid and accommodation.-History:According to...
there were 603,251 IDPs in Azerbaijan in March 2009. The majority has lives in and around Baku, as well as in Sumgayit. Significant numbers of
IDPs also live along the central-southern route of Fuzuli
Fuzûlî
Fużūlī was the pen name of the Azerbaijani or the Bayat branch of Oghuz Turkish and Ottoman poet, writer and thinker Muhammad bin Suleyman...
-Aghdam-Agjabedi-Barda
Barda
Barda may refer to:*Barda Rayon, a district in Azerbaijan*Barda, Azerbaijan, a town in Azerbaijan* Bârda, a village in Malovăţ Commune, Mehedinţi County, Romania*Barda, Russia, a rural locality in Perm Krai, Russia*Jean-Pierre Barda*Olaf Barda...
-Mingechevir-Ganja
Ganja
Ganja is Azerbaijan's second-largest city with a population of around 313,300. It was named Yelizavetpol in the Russian Empire period. The city regained its original name—Ganja—from 1920–1935 during the first part of its incorporation into the Soviet Union. However, its name was changed again and...
, the northern route of Shamakhi
Shamakhi
Shamakhi or Shamakhy is a rayon of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and a town in the rayon. It is the historical center of the region of Shirvan.The town is west of Baku. It has more than 20,000 inhabitants, among them Azerbaijanis and Russians...
-Ismailli
Ismailli
Ismailli is a rayon of Azerbaijan.-History:Ismailly district was created with the center in the Ismailly village on November 21, 1931...
-Gabala
Gabala
Gabala can be either of the following:* Gabala , a genus of nolid moths* Gabala, a town in Angola* The Spanish languageIt also is a variant spelling of:* Jabala, a Christian city in Syria during the Middle Ages...
-Sheki
Sheki
Sheki can refer to:* Shiki District , multiple places* Shaki, Azerbaijan, a city* Shaki Rayon in Azerbaijan* Shaki Khanate* Sheki, Ethiopia, a town in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia...
and the southern route of Sabirabad
Sabirabad
Sabirabad is a rayon of Azerbaijan whose capital, Sabirabad lies at the junction of the Araz and Kura rivers. The low lying area is dependent on canals and dams whose damage during 2010 caused waters from Lake Sarisu to flood several of the region's villages....
-Saatli
Saatli
Saatlı may refer to:*Saatly Rayon, Azerbaijan*Saatlı , capital of Saatly Rayon*Saatlı, Barda, Azerbaijan...
-Imishli
Imishli
Imishli is a rayon of Azerbaijan.Imishli and Sabirabad rayons share the largest lake of Azerbaijan Sarysu...
-Beylagan
Beylagan
Beylagan is a rayon of Azerbaijan, with capital city being Beylagan.The 5th century Armenian historian Moses of Chorene states that this name is from the Persian name Payda-gharan , that its meaning is not clear , but "-an" in the last section means "place of " in Persian .-External links:*...
.
Problems
Although relations between IDPs and the local population are generally amicable and there is a high level of tolerance among the local population there are instances of conflicts arising due to the special status of IDPs (such as privileged access to employment, government financial assistance, free health services and property ownership privileges).See also
- Internally displaced personInternally displaced personAn internally displaced person is someone who is forced to flee his or her home but who remains within his or her country's borders. They are often referred to as refugees, although they do not fall within the current legal definition of a refugee. At the end of 2006 it was estimated there were...
- Nagorno-Karabakh WarNagorno-Karabakh WarThe Nagorno-Karabakh War was an armed conflict that took place from February 1988 to May 1994, in the small enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in southwestern Azerbaijan, between the majority ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh backed by the Republic of Armenia, and the Republic of Azerbaijan...
- RefugeeRefugeeA refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
- United Nations High Commissioner for RefugeesUnited Nations High Commissioner for RefugeesThe Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees , also known as The UN Refugee Agency is a United Nations agency mandated to protect and support refugees at the request of a government or the UN itself and assists in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to...
- State Committee of Republic of Azerbaijan for Refugees and IDPsState Committee of Republic of Azerbaijan for Refugees and IDPsThe State Committee of Republic of Azerbaijan for Refugees and IDPs is a governmental agency within the Cabinet of Azerbaijan in charge of regulation of the issues related to refugees and internally displaced persons in Azerbaijan, including humanitarian aid and accommodation.-History:According to...
External links
- The impact of the global food crisis on Azerbaijan - in pictures
- State Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Deals of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons
- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
- The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants
- The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC)
- Danish Refugee Council