Yeraz
Encyclopedia
The Yeraz people, sometimes called Yer-az or Yerazi, are an Azerbaijani
sub-group, also referred to as a clan
, consisting of Azeris originally from present-day
Armenia
. The term Yeraz in the Azeri language
derives from "Azeri from Yerevan
", and used even if the person does not hail from the city of Yerevan itself.
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 Nagorno-Karabakh War
. Because they developed with some different customs and cuisine from Azeris in Azerbaijan, the Yerazi have maintained a cohesive sub-culture within the country. Due to tension and cultural differences between Azeris from Azerbaijan and Azeris from Armenia, the term "Yeraz" can be construed as a pejorative.
(UNHCR) estimates the current population of Azeris in Armenia to be somewhere between 30 and a few hundred persons, with majority of them living in rural areas and being members of mixed couples (mostly Azeri 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.
, 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. As the distribution of power in Azeri politics is based on clan and familial ties, these two Western Azeri clans have pushed other clans from power and formed a pyramidal web of patronage built around Nakhichevanis and Yerazi clan groups.
The leader of the Yeraz clan is Jalal Aliyev, uncle of Azeri President Ilham Aliyev
. Ramiz Mehtiev, the head of the President's Executive Body, is another prominent member. 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.
The Yeraz have two non-political movements: Ağrıdağ (Azeri name for: Ararat) and the Irevan Birliyi (Yerevan Unity) . Originally 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.
Azerbaijani people
The Azerbaijanis are a Turkic-speaking people living mainly in northwestern Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as in the neighbourhood states, Georgia, Russia and formerly Armenia. Commonly referred to as Azeris or Azerbaijani Turks , they also live in a wider area from the Caucasus to...
sub-group, also referred to as a clan
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
, consisting of Azeris originally from present-day
Azerbaijanis in Armenia
The Turkic community in Armenia, which mostly identified themselves as Azerbaijanis in the 20th century, represented a large number but have been virtually non-existent since in 1988–1991. Most Azeris fled the country as a result of the Nagorno-Karabakh War and the ongoing conflict between Armenia...
Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
. The term Yeraz in the Azeri language
Azerbaijani language
Azerbaijani or Azeri or Torki is a language belonging to the Turkic language family, spoken in southwestern Asia by the Azerbaijani people, primarily in Azerbaijan and northwestern Iran...
derives from "Azeri from Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
", and used even if the person does not hail from the city of Yerevan itself.
Due to longtime historic tensions between neighboring Armenia and Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
, virtually all the Yeraz have left Armenia for Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
and other countries before tensions exploded with the Nagorno-Karabakh War
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...
. Because they developed with some different customs and cuisine from Azeris in Azerbaijan, the Yerazi have maintained a cohesive sub-culture within the country. Due to tension and cultural differences between Azeris from Azerbaijan and Azeris from Armenia, the term "Yeraz" can be construed as a pejorative.
History
The Azeri community in Armenia represented a large number but has been virtually non-existent since 1988–1991, when the overwhelming majority of Azeris fled the country as a result of the Nagorno-Karabakh War and the ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. United Nations High Commissioner for RefugeesUnited Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
The 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...
(UNHCR) estimates the current population of Azeris in Armenia to be somewhere between 30 and a few hundred persons, with majority of them living in rural areas and being members of mixed couples (mostly Azeri women married to Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic 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.
Political power
In Azerbaijan, the Yeraz form a cohesive political clan that, along with the Nakhchivani clan, has dominated Azerbaijani politics since Soviet times. Though born in Nakhchivan, the family of Heydar AliyevHeydar Aliyev
Heydar Alirza oglu Aliyev , also spelled as Heidar Aliev, Geidar Aliev, Haydar Aliyev, Geydar Aliyev was the third President of Azerbaijan for the New Azerbaijan Party from June 1993 to October 2003, when his son Ilham Aliyev succeeded him.From 1969 till 1982, Aliyev was also the leader of Soviet...
, 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. As the distribution of power in Azeri politics is based on clan and familial ties, these two Western Azeri clans have pushed other clans from power and formed a pyramidal web of patronage built around Nakhichevanis and Yerazi clan groups.
The leader of the Yeraz clan is Jalal Aliyev, uncle of Azeri President Ilham Aliyev
Ilham Aliyev
Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev is the President of Azerbaijan since 2003. He also functions as the Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party and the head of the National Olympic Committee...
. Ramiz Mehtiev, the head of the President's Executive Body, is another prominent member. Before Jalal Aliyev, the unofficial leader of the Yerazi was Ali Insanov, a co-founder of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party
New Azerbaijan Party
The New Azerbaijan Party is the ruling political party in Azerbaijan. It was formed on 18 December 1992 by the former President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev, who led it until his retirement and death in 2003...
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.
The Yeraz have two non-political movements: Ağrıdağ (Azeri name for: Ararat) and the Irevan Birliyi (Yerevan Unity) . Originally 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.
See also
- Western AzerbaijanWestern AzerbaijanWestern Azerbaijan is a political concept used in the Republic of Azerbaijan to refer the present-day territory of Armenia. The term is mostly used by the Yeraz who were forced to leave their homes in Armenia SSR since 1988-1991. Azerbaijan considers the territory of the modern Armenian republic...
- Azeri and other Turkic peoples in Armenia
- Khanate of Erevan
- Islam in ArmeniaIslam in ArmeniaIslam in Armenia consists mostly of temporary residents from Iran and other countries. There is no native population reported as Muslim.In 2009, the Pew Research Center estimated that less than 0.1% of the population, or about 1,000 people, were Muslims....