Yeraz

The Yeraz people, sometimes called Yer-az or Yerazi, are an Azerbaijani sub-group, also referred to as a clan, consisting of Azerbaijanis originally from present-day Armenia. The term Yeraz in the Azerbaijani language derives from "Azerbaijani from Yerevan", and used even if the person does not hail from the city of Yerevan itself.[1]

Due to longtime historic tensions between neighboring Armenia and Azerbaijan, virtually all the Yeraz have left Armenia for Azerbaijan and other countries before tensions exploded with the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. Because they developed with some different customs and cuisine from Azerbaijanis in Azerbaijan, the Yerazi have maintained a cohesive sub-culture within the country. Due to tension and cultural differences between Azerbaijanis from Azerbaijan and Azerbaijanis from Armenia, the term "Yeraz" can be construed as a pejorative.[1][2]

History
Main article: Azerbaijanis in Armenia

The Azerbaijani community in Armenia represented a large number but has been virtually non-existent since 1988–1991, when the overwhelming majority of Azerbaijanis fled the country as a result of the First Nagorno-Karabakh War and the ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates the current population of Azerbaijanis in Armenia to be somewhere between 30 and a few hundred persons,[3] with majority of them living in rural areas and being members of mixed couples (mostly Azerbaijani women married to Armenian men), as well as elderly and sick, and thus unable to leave the country. Most of them are also reported to have changed their names and maintain a low profile to avoid discrimination.[4][5]

Political power

In Azerbaijan, the Yeraz form a cohesive political clan that, along with the Nakhchivani clan, has dominated Azerbaijani politics since Soviet times.[6][7] Though born in Nakhchivan, the family of Heydar Aliyev, longtime President of Azerbaijan and father of its current President, originated from Armenia; as a result he essentially had a double-origin and strong political base in Azerbaijan's Western clans.[8] As the distribution of power in Azerbaijani politics is based on clan and familial ties,[9] these two Western Azerbaijani clans have pushed other clans from power[6][8] and formed a pyramidal web of patronage built around Nakhichevanis and Yerazi clan groups.[10]

The leader of the Yeraz clan is Jalal Aliyev, uncle of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.[9] Ramiz Mehtiev, the head of the President's Executive Body, is another prominent member.[8] Before Jalal Aliyev, the unofficial leader of the Yerazi was Ali Insanov, a co-founder of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party and the former Health Minister of Azerbaijan for 12 years. Insanov and influential bureaucrat Akif Muradverdiyev were considered among the most powerful members of the Yerazi clan until they were sacked by President Ilham Aliyev for corruption before the November 2005 parliamentary elections.[7][11]

The Yeraz have two non-political movements: "Ağrıdağ" (an Azerbaijani name for Mount Ararat) and the "Irevan Birliyi" (Yerevan Unity).[8] Founded by Insanov, Ağrıdağ acted as a vehicle to spread the clan's influence at the national level, particularly over the country's health system.[7]

See also

Notes
  1. Political glossary, Conciliation Resources, Accessed January 14, 2011.
  2. Azerbaijan: Vulnerable Stability, Europe Report N°207, International Crisis Group, September 3, 2010, Accessed January 14, 2011.
  3. Second Report Submitted by Armenia Pursuant to Article 25, Paragraph 1 of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Received on 24 November 2004
  4. International Protection Considerations Regarding Armenian Asylum-Seekers and Refugees Archived 2014-04-16 at the Wayback Machine. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Geneva: September 2003
  5. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2003: Armenia U.S. Department of State. Released 25 February 2004
  6. Azerbaijan Update Archived 2013-09-23 at the Wayback Machine, The European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity, November 24, 2006, Accessed Dec. 14, 2006.
  7. Ben Wetherall, Azerbaijan: President Aliyev Asserts His Authority on Eve of Parliamentary Elections, Global Insight, Accessed Dec. 14, 2006.
  8. Azerbaijan: Turning Over a New Leaf?, Europe Report N°156, International Crisis Group, May 12, 2004, Accessed Dec. 14, 2006.
  9. Philip Stephens, From east to west, Financial Times, October 28, 2005, Accessed Dec. 14, 2006.
  10. Head of State: President Ilham Aliyev, October 2003-, International Crisis Group, September 22, 2004, Accessed Dec. 14, 2006.
  11. Rovshan Ismayilov, Azerbaijan: Two More officials Sacked, Eurasianet, October 20, 2005, Accessed Dec. 14, 2006.
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