Immigration to Azerbaijan

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Azerbaijan though not a popular destination for immigrants, has recently experienced waves of immigration with the collapse of the Soviet Union, especially from ethnic Azerbaijanis mostly from Armenia (as refugees), Russia and the rest of the former Soviet Union. Meskhetian Turks were also relocated to Azerbaijan from Central Asia before and after the end of the Soviet Union. With the booming petroleum industry, immigration from Turkey has also followed. In 2010, every eighth resident in Azerbaijan was a migrant, of whom more than 90% of them are Azerbaijanis and 70% are internally displaced persons from the territories occupied by Armenia. [1]

Contents

History

In the post-Soviet period hundreds of people immigrated to Azerbaijan. But between 1989 and 1990 Azerbaijan faced with mass emigration. The main reasons of this emigration were difficulties in the transition and economic crisis as Azerbaijan was in the state of war. According to the official sources, emigration and immigration mainly occurred after the collapse of the USSR, between 1990 and 1992.

Azerbaijan faced a mass influx of refugees originating from other former Soviet Republics, especially Armenia after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Soon these flows declined, but immigrant flow from neighboring Middle Eastern states increased. From 1991 to 2011 about 410 thousand migrants arrived in Azerbaijan for permanent residence. In 2008 Azerbaijan was not emigration donor country anymore. Between 2008 and 2010 totally 4,700 people left, 8,100 people immigrated to Azerbaijan. Most of them were citizens of the CIS. Between 2008 and 2010 only 953 persons immigrated to Azerbaijan from other countries, including 10 people from the United States and 9 from Germany. [2] [3]

In 2006 Azerbaijani President approved a decree on State Migration Program of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2006-2008 which was aimed at the establishment of state-of-the-art migration management system in Azerbaijan. So far more than 20 legislative acts related to migration issues have been adopted in Azerbaijan. In order to protect the rights of migrants, Azerbaijan has acceded to the UN Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families and Palermo Protocols. [4]

Action Plan between Azerbaijan and the European Union was adopted within the European Neighborhood Policy in November 2006. The Action Plan included migration related issues such as migration management, asylum issues, prevention of illegal migration, dialogue on readmission matters, reintegration of returned migrants, visa facilitation. [5]

Effect of immigration

Demographic facts

The specialists define three groups of immigrants in Azerbaijan such as ethnic Azeries who resided in other republics of the USSR for a long time (mostly Russia and to a less extent Ukraine), but move to the country most often (Talysh, Lezghins, Avars, etc.), ethnic Azeries, mostly coming from Georgia, and labor immigrants from different countries (Turkey, India, Pakistan, etc.) [6] In 1990s, refugees from other countries began to immigrate to Azerbaijan, especially from Russia (Chechens), as well as from Afghanistan and Iraq regarding to various conflicts in these regions. In parallel, religious missionaries and migrant workers from Eastern countries, among which Turks and Iranians were dominated, immigrated to Azerbaijan.

According to the report of State Migration Service of Azerbaijan 208 foreigners (Afghanistan-94 people, Pakistan-77 people, Iran-29 people, Iraq-5 people) applied for asylum in Azerbaijan. Two of them received refugee status (totally 5 people together with family members.)

As immigration rules was tightened in Russia in 2006, Chinese migrants, as well as citizens of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and other far eastern countries began to immigrate to other countries, as well as to Azerbaijan. According to the official data of the Ministry of Interior, there were up to 1,000 Chinese people in 2008. [7]

Economic

Immigrants pay 1,000 manats ($587,96) in taxes each year to work in Azerbaijan for five years.

12,898 migrants from 95 countries were registered as of 2012. Labor migrants mostly came to Azerbaijan from Turkey and Georgia. Turkish migrants are mainly work in the construction sector. Georgian migrants choose the service sectors of the Azerbaijani economy. [8]

Religious and cultural adaptation

96 percent of Azerbaijani population is Muslims. But all religious confessions are equal before the law. Until Islam, the religions such as Zoroastrianism and Christianity already existed in Azerbaijan. Currently, Islam is the dominant religion in Azerbaijan.

Director General of ISESCO Dr. Abdulaziz Othman expressing his attitude to religious tolerance in Azerbaijan stated: “ISESCO has to reveal to the whole world how ancient and rich culture you have. We will accomplish all requirements from our side in terms of implementing documents signed in the field of cooperation with your country and this cooperation will be a sample for other member states.” [9]

During his visit to Azerbaijan in 2002 Rome Patriarch Bartholomew I stated: “I got satisfied from the level of religious tolerance. In Azerbaijan everyone can practice religion and carry out rites on his/her own will.” Immigrants from different nationalities do not face any difficulties in adapting to the country. As different cultural communities such as Russians, Ukrainians, Lacs, Lezgins, Slavians, Tats, Tatars, Georgians, Ingiloys, Talishians, Avars, Meskhetian turks, European and mountain Jews, Germans and Hellenes exist in all regions of Azerbaijan, rich cultural and spiritual heritage was formed in Azerbaijan throughout the centuries. [10]

Immigrants from different nationalities do not face any difficulties in adapting to the country. As different cultural communities such as Russians, Ukrainians, Lacs, Lezgins, Slavians, Tats, Tatars, Georgians, Ingiloys, Talishians, Avars, Meskhetian turks, European and mountain Jews, Germans and Hellenes exist in all regions of Azerbaijan, rich cultural and spiritual heritage was formed in Azerbaijan throughout the centuries.

Immigration regulations

Immigration Options for Foreign Citizens

Immigration to Azerbaijan as a foreign citizen is limited to skilled workers (individuals with either a university or polytechnic degree or at least 3 years of training together with job experience), students and their immediate family members. In 2010, The State Migration Service of Azerbaijan adopted Migration Code. [11]

Any person married to an Azerbaijani citizen may immigrate to Azerbaijan.

Refugees and Asylum-seekers

Illegal immigration

Illegal (sometimes termed irregular) immigrants in the Azerbaijan include those who have:

In 2010, The State Migration Service of Azerbaijan has expelled 8 500 foreign citizens or stateless persons. [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meskhetian Turks</span> Ethnic subgroup of Turks

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The Turkish people, or simply the Turks, are the world's largest Turkic ethnic group; they speak various dialects of the Turkish language and form a majority in Turkey and Northern Cyprus. In addition, centuries-old ethnic Turkish communities still live across other former territories of the Ottoman Empire. Article 66 of the Turkish Constitution defines a "Turk" as: "Anyone who is bound to the Turkish state through the bond of citizenship." While the legal use of the term "Turkish" as it pertains to a citizen of Turkey is different from the term's ethnic definition, the majority of the Turkish population are of Turkish ethnicity. The vast majority of Turks are Muslims and follow the Sunni and Alevi faith.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peoples of the Caucasus</span> Diverse group comprising more than 50 ethnic groups

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Azerbaijan has a large number of internally displaced people and refugees, mostly as a result of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The First Nagorno-Karabakh war displaced 750,000 Azerbaijanis, with 600,000 of them being from Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts and the 150,000 of them being from Armenia.

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A refugee crisis can refer to difficulties and dangerous situations in the reception of large groups of forcibly displaced persons. These could be either internally displaced, refugees, asylum seekers or any other huge groups of migrants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deportation of the Meskhetian Turks</span> 1944 ethnic cleansing of the Meskhetian Turks in the Soviet Union

The deportation of the Meskhetian Turks was the forced transfer by the Soviet government of the entire Meskhetian Turk population from the Meskheti region of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic to Central Asia on 14 November 1944. During the deportation, between 92,307 and 94,955 Meskhetian Turks were forcibly removed from 212 villages. They were packed into cattle wagons and mostly sent to the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic. Members of other ethnic groups were also deported during the operation, including Kurds and Hemshins, bringing the total to approximately 115,000 evicted people. They were placed in special settlements where they were assigned to forced labor. The deportation and harsh conditions in exile caused between 12,589 to 50,000 deaths.

References

  1. ↑ "Every eighth resident of Azerbaijan is a migrant". abc.az. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  2. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-02-26. Retrieved 2017-09-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ↑ https://esa.un.org/miggmgprofiles/indicators/files/Azerbaijan.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  4. ↑ "Refworld | National Legislative Bodies / National Authorities".
  5. ↑ http://eeas.europa.eu/archives/docs/enp/pdf/pdf/progress2010/sec10_519_en.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  6. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-02-26. Retrieved 2017-09-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ↑ http://www.migrationpolicycentre.eu/docs/migration_profiles/Azerbaijan.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  8. ↑ "Migration boom in Azerbaijan". 8 August 2012.
  9. ↑ "Articles / Azerbaijan is the land of tolerance". Archived from the original on 2017-09-30. Retrieved 2017-09-29.
  10. ↑ "Multiculturalism is now an essential ideology – ThePrisma.co.uk". Archived from the original on 2017-09-30. Retrieved 2017-09-29.
  11. ↑ "Migration Code to be adopted in Azerbaijan". news,az. Archived from the original on 10 October 2010. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  12. ↑ "8 500 foreigners expelled from Azerbaijan this year". abc.az. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
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