Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku International Multiculturalism Centre Azerbaijani Multiculturalism Textbook for Higher Education

court and make complaints in their mother tongue, and also freely to

use the service of an interpreter in accordance with this Code where the right to use the aforementioned is explained and enshrined.

‘11.3. Court documents are given to participants in the proceedings in the language in which the proceedings are conducted.’

A number of other laws clearly state that no one should suffer discrimination on the grounds of language, ethnic affiliation, religion and so on. For example, Article 11.2 of the Criminal Procedure Code says:

‘The prosecuting authorities do not favour any individuals involved in the criminal process and confer no advantage on the grounds of citizenship, sex, race, ethnicity political or religious affiliation, language, origin, property status, place of residence, or current location, and or on the basis of other considerations not founded in law.’

There are also legislative provisions on the use of minority languages in education. The law ‘On education’ allows for education in the languages of minorities:

‘7.1. The language of instruction in educational institutions of the Azerbaijan Republic is the state language – the Azerbaijani language.

‘7.2. In exceptional cases (international treaties, or with the agreement of the respective executive authority), at the request of citizens and founders of educational institutions, instruction can be delivered in other languages under the respective state standards of education on condition that the Azerbaijani language, literature, history, and geography will be taught as well.’

There are also provisions in the law ‘On the mass media’ to prevent discrimination in the use of minority languages:

Section II

Chapter 5

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Azerbaijani Multiculturalism

‘Article 6. The language of mass media

‘The mass media use the state language on the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

‘The citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan have the right to use and disseminate mass information in other languages spoken by the population of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as in other widespread languages of the world.’

The law ‘On culture’ of the Republic of Azerbaijan recognizes the right of minorities to develop their own cultures and language and to participate in the cultural life of the country using their own languages.

‘Article 6. Ensuring rights and freedoms

‘6.1. The rights and freedoms of everyone in the sphere of culture are ensured in the Republic of Azerbaijan in accordance with the principles and norms of international law.

‘6.2. The state ensures the rights and freedoms of everyone in the sphere of culture, irrespective of sex, race, language, religion and political conviction, nationality, social status, social background, health and membership of public associations.

‘6.3. The state ensures equality in the sphere of culture as follows:

‘6.3.1. equality in the rights and freedoms of the cultures of the

peoples and national minorities living in the state;


6.3.2. equality in protecting the cultures of the peoples and national minorities living in the state, in defining their cultural identity, in restoring, strengthening and developing their cultural resources.’

Only some of the legislative acts concerning language have been mentioned here. The protection and development of minority languages is set out in other official documents, decrees,

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     instructions and laws.
     

5.7. Multiculturalism as a Manifestation of the Coexistence of National Diaspora Groups in Azerbaijan

With its important geographical location Azerbaijan has been a vivid example of multiculturalism and tolerance for centuries and remains so to this day. In this regard, it would be beneficial to look at the historical context in which the European communities emerged and developed at the intersection of East and West.

After the signature of the Turkmenchay Treaty in 1828, in order to establish its political power and create a social base for it the Russian Empire began to pursue a policy of Christian settlement in Azerbaijani lands. To this end, Germans, Armenians and Russians were settled in the territory of Azerbaijan; Poles, Greeks, Swedes and other ethnic groups were added later to the country’s ethnic and denominational mix.

In the second half of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries the rapid development of the oil industry attracted waves of migration to capitalist Baku which increased the European population the country and led to the creation of new communities. The largest of them were the Russian, Polish, Jewish, Greek and German communities.