Ethnic Azerbaijani people and Elections

Nurana Mammad

After the 2012 Parliamentary Elections 8 ethnic minorities became members of the Parliament of Georgia. In 2008-2012 there were 6 ethnic minority MPs in the Georgian Parliament, in 2004-2008 their number was 12 and in 1998-2004 – 16. 

The Georgian Dream, the ruling party of Georgia, has 7 ethnic minority representatives in the proportional list for the upcoming 2016 Parliamentary Elections; first of them is the 19th on the list; the United National Movement has 13 ethnic minority representatives in the proportional list and the first of them is 26th on the list.

What will be changed if ethnic Azerbaijani people will go in the Georgian Parliament? The interviewed candidates mostly focused on the current problems though did not speak about the ways of their solution.

Benyamin Kasimov is the 18th on the election list of the Free Democrats. He said ethnic Azerbaijani people do not participate in public-political life of Georgia and it is caused by illiteracy of the state language. 

“One thing is to be in the politics formally but effective engagement in it is another option. Unfortunately, ethnic Azerbaijani people are only formally involved in the political life in Georgia. Today, the tendency is changing and Azerbaijani youth are getting more interested in the politics because they know the Georgian language better than previous generations. In order to solve the problems in the regions inhabited by ethnic Azerbaijani people, the problems shall be lobbied from the Center. To completely eradicate the problem of not knowing the state language, Georgian language lessons shall become more intensive and effective educational programs shall be implemented. When the state implements the 4+1 program (the program aims to assist minorities to get high education. Applicants can involve the program by taking only one exam- skills in Azerbaijani or Armenian languages. Having joined the program, the student attends one-year Georgian language course that helps him/her to improve the language skills to conitnue studies in the university, it should respect the right to education: the state shall not charge students for the state language courses,” Benyamin Kasimov said.

Azer Suleymanov is a member of the UNM and MP of the 8th convocation parliament.  He was member of the committee for regional policy and self-governance. He is the 26th on the UNM election list. Suleymanov believes the program 4+1 was one of the most successful programs of the former government; as for the major problems, he thinks it is unemployment. “In 2003 only 7 ethnic Azerbaijani student studied in the universities of Georgia. Illiteracy of the Georgian language was the biggest obstacle for them to get high education. To resolve this problem, the state commenced the program 4+1. Nowadays, up to 3 000 ethnic Azerbaijani students study in the universities. Many ethnic Azerbaijani people know Georgian language well but regardless that fact they cannot get jobs. If not Azerbaijani companies working in Georgia, ethnic Azerbaijani people would not have chance to get jobs.”

Samira Ismaylova is also single mandate candidate of the UNM in Bolnisi. She said, in Bolnisi, like in the rest Georgia, the enterprises are stopped, there are problems of employment and economic-social situation. The UNM single mandate candidate paid particular attention to the problems of early marriages and women’s rights. “Women do not have information about their rights. They often become victims of violence but never speak about it publicly. The reason is low awarness. Gilrs have right to education and the state shall defend this right. The problem of early marriages is still unaddressed. The past 4-year statistics show that the state institutions are reluctant to address this problem. The law is not effectively enforced – often plea-agreements are signed with the men, who forced underage girls to marry them; they are not put in prison. Consequently, the law is not functional. It means the legislator does not monitor enforcement and effectiveness of the law they adopt; neither inform the population about the laws.”

Israpil Bayramov is a single mandate candidate of the block Paata Burtchuladze – State for People in the Marneuli Election District # 36. He pays attention to the maintanance of the Azerbaijani schools and recruitment of new teachers in them. “We should send young people, who want to become teachers, to Azerbaijan to get high education; or open pedagogical faculties in Azerbaijani language in Georgia. Teachers shall work hard to teach children the Georgian language well. Azerbaijani language shall become second working language in the local self-governmental bodies [in the rspective regions]; and the quota of the ethnic Azerbaijani people in the Parliament shall be cancelled.”

MP Ali Babaev said engagement of ethnic Azerbaijani people in the political life of Georgia is increasing though slowly. “Situation is changing; people are getting more interested in politics. Political parties have many ethnic Azerbaijani people as single mandate candidates or on their proportional lists.”

What hinders integration of the Azerbaijani people in the Georgian public—political life?

Participation in the parliament’s work is not enough for the full integration of the Azerbaijani people in the Georgian public-political life. Head of the Congress of Ethnic Azerbaijani people in Georgia and former Kvemo Kartli region deputy governor Huseyn Yusupov believes the education, increased level of the political education and informed election will resolve the problem. “During Shevardnadze’s governance there was myth that ethnic minorities always vote for the ruling party and the political parties did not see sense to work with them. This perception has nothing to do with reality. Big part of the popoulation did not have information about other political parties in Georgia. Only ruling party had an office in Kvemo Kartli. People votes for the political party, which they know. Personal contacts are very important. Ethnic Azerbaijani people mostly vote for the parties, where their relatives and acquiantances are members. It may be strange, but in the regions inhabited by ethnic Azerbaijani people, those political parties win who has no visions about ethnic minorities in their election agendas. It is caused by political illiteracy.”

Head of the Marneuli regional office of the Georgian Dream Amiran Giorgadze said the state does everything to promote integration of the ethnic Azerbaijani people in the public-political life of Georgia. “Ethnic Azerbaijani people participate in the elections. They are members of the election commissions and political parties. We disseminate the programs of our political party in Azerbaijani language. In order to engage them in the political life they should know Georgian language. The state does everything to assit ethnic minorities to learn the state language. Education in kindergartens, schools and universities is in Georgian language. Many state programs are being implemented. If they do not study it is their problem. The state created all conditions for them to learn the state language.”

The representatives of the Georgian election administration say illiteracy of the Georgian language is the main obstacle for the integration of ethnic minorities; as for their participation in the elections – it is caused by low awareness. “Although election documents have been translated into Azerbaijani language since 2008, it is clear that only translation does not ensure their engagement. In 2012, a working group was created which identified the problems of ethnic minorities and elaborated the working plan,” the CEC representatives said.

As they added, after identification of the problems, series of activities were implemented to ensure education and awareness raising of ethnic minorities: ethnic Azerbaijani and Armenian people got employed in the CEC information centers; they are ordered to reach out as many voters as possible. CEC official webpage has additional category – Ethnic Minorities, where all documents and videos are available in the languages of minorities.