Chairperson: Azerbaijan has largest Russian community in South Caucasus

First Deputy Chairperson of the Russian Community of Azerbaijan Anastasia Lavrina has said that Azerbaijan created favourable conditions for the peaceful coexistence and development of many nationalities and confessions, and the Government actively supports the principles of tolerance and respect for different religious traditions.

“Russians in Azerbaijan have always been considered full-fledged citizens of a multinational society. Our rights are not only protected by the constitution. The favourable conditions in which we live make us very happy. Cohesion is one of the most important characteristics of Azerbaijani society. The 44-day Patriotic War that started in September 2020 has united us even more. Representatives of all ethnic groups, including Russians, volunteered to defend their homeland,” she said, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

Lavrina emphasised that the large number of Russians living in the country shows that good conditions have been created for them in Azerbaijan: “We have the largest community in the South Caucasus region, numbering about 120,000 people.”

She also noted that the Azerbaijani authorities carefully treat cultural-architectural monuments of different nations and religions, in connection with which restoration of temples is supported at the expense of state grants and financing.

“Russians in Azerbaijan are not limited in opportunities. Over the years, we have become even more actively involved in the ongoing processes and are ready to support the efforts of the country's leadership to promote a peaceful agenda in the region, strengthen relations with Russia, and develop the liberated territories. In addition, I would like to note that the Russian language remains important in business and diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Russia. Azerbaijan actively participates in international organisations, where Russian is often used as one of the working languages. This creates additional motivation for learning Russian. Also, Russian is a popular choice among students and young people wishing to study foreign languages due to its importance in international communication and business,” the chairperson added.