22.09.2003 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Die Situation ethnisch gemischter Paare in Armenien ("Die Situation ethnisch gemischter Paare in Armenien; Gutachten der SFH-Länderanalyse") [#17251],  [ID 3064]

Document(s): Open document

16.09.2003 - Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Currently, there is no evidence of systematic discrimination by the Armenian Government against the few remaining ethnic Azeris, persons of mixed Armenian/Azeri origin or mixed couples ("Background information; situation of ethnic minorities; groups possibly at risk: religious minorities, members of opposition, homosexuals, deserters") [#47207],  [ID 3062]

"118. Only a few hundred ethnic Azeris (mixed couples, elderly and sick) have remained and continue to live in Armenia. However, the exact number is nearly impossible to estimate. Most of those who stayed in Armenia come from mixed ethnic families, i.e., either Azeri wives of Armenian men or descendants of mixed Armenian-Azeri marriages.48 For the elderly and sick, departure was never an option. Most of ethnic Azeris have changed their names to conceal their ethnic origin and/or to keep a low profile in the society. Currently, there is no evidence of systematic discrimination by the Armenian Government against the few remaining ethnic Azeris, persons of mixed Armenian/Azeri origin or mixed couples. It is reported that they are mostly living in the rural areas. Their neighbours are aware of their identity, but are tolerant.49 UNHCR has no information in recent years as to whether they have problems with the public offices if they need to obtain official certificates or to renew their documents. However, given that many of them are understood to be elderly, it is likely that they are not in situations where they need to approach public offices or that they are not noticed as being Azeri or mix origin as they have changed their names."

Document(s): Open document

16.09.2003 - Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Nearly the entire Azeri population was either expelled by the local authorities or fled, fearing for their lives and security ("Background information; situation of ethnic minorities; groups possibly at risk: religious minorities, members of opposition, homosexuals, deserters") [#47207],  [ID 3063]

"116. Before 1988, Azeris were the largest ethnic minority in Armenia. The figure from 1988 was nearly 200,000. As the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh intensified, ethnic tensions erupted leading to the mistreatment of the Azeri minority. The Armenian authorities discriminated against ethnic Azeris and were unwilling to protect them against acts of violence perpetrated by the Armenian population. Following the anti-Armenian pogroms in Baku and Sumgait in Azerbaijan in 1988-89, nearly the entire Azeri population was either expelled by the local authorities or fled, fearing for their lives and security.
117. From 1988 to 1992, ethnic Azeris, persons of mixed Armenian/Azeri origin and couples of mixed Armenian/Azeri ethnic origin were, when not expelled, systematically victims of harassment and acts of violence, such as physical and psychological violence, threats to life, abductions, deprivation of property and social benefits, marginalisation, etc. These acts were either perpetrated by the local authorities themselves or by certain circles of the society, encouraged and tolerated by the local authorities."

Document(s): Open document

04.2003 - Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Position on mixed Azeri-Armenian couples from Azerbaijan and the specific issue of their admission and asylum in Armenia ("Position on mixed Azeri-Armenian couples from Azerbaijan and the specific issue of their admission and asylum in Armenia") [#15111],  [ID 3065]

Document(s): Open document

31.03.2003 - Source: US Department of State

Almost all ethnic Azeris living in Armenia fled to Azerbaijan ("Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2002") [#11840],  [ID 3066]

"As a result of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, particularly within the period from 1988 to 1994, ethnic minorities on both sides frequently have been subject to societal and governmental discrimination and intimidation, often accompanied by violence intended to drive them from the country. Almost all ethnic Azeris living in Armenia in 1988--approximately 185,000 persons--fled to Azerbaijan. Of the 400,000 ethnic Armenians then living in Azerbaijan, 330,000 fled and gained refugee status in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. As of November 2001, Armenian officials stated that the number of ethnic-Armenians in the country during the year was 264,332. The Government, OSCE, and the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR) did not provide numbers or any other information on refugees in Nagorno-Karabakh."

Document(s): Open document

28.11.2002 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

Most of ethnic Azeris who stayed in Armenia come from mixed ethnic families; most of them are rather assimilated and accepted by their neighbours ("8th European Country of Origin Information Seminar Vienna, 28 - 29 June 2002: Final Report - Armenia - co-funded by the EU Odysseus Programme") [#9877],  [ID 3068]

"The most relevant ethnic minority in terms of RSD are probably ethnic Azeris, children of
mixed ethnic origin and Armenian spouses of Azeris living in Armenia. Most of those who
stayed in Armenia reportedly come from mixed ethnic families, i.e. either Azeri wives of
Armenian men or descendants of mixed Armenian-Azeri marriages. Their overall number
is estimated to be very small, although it is impossible to obtain reliable figures. This is
partly because Azeri are keeping a low profile and are not inclined to openly say that they are ethnic Azeris. For instance, most of them have reportedly changed their family
names to Armenian-sounding names, e.g. by adopting a name that ends with '-ian'.
As an ethnic community, the Azeri minority population is not organised, but most of its
members are rather assimilated and accepted by their neighbours and their local
community. Neighbours usually know that they are Azeris, or that a person’s father was
Azeri. Still ethnic and mixed ethnic Azeris themselves are not really willing to talk about
their origin. In fact, they do not want to be disturbed, and usually say, just leave us
alone. Moreover, they express fear that once there is someone inquiring about their
situation they suddenly get singled out and attract attention. Therefore, they would
rather want to be left alone within the community, well aware of the fact that their
neighbours know that they are Azeris. [...] In order to be able to assess the risk upon return of ethnic Azeris and mixed ethnic
Azeris whose asylum claims were rejected the key question is: When did they leave?
Based on the above-mentioned concept of community, the situation may not be too
difficult if the returnees only left a relatively short while before their return, because
their community still knows them. Yet, if an ethnic or mixed ethnic Azeri had left e.g. five
years ago and if s/he had been living in Russia for a longer period, subsequently moving
to Europe to apply for asylum, the return of this person to Armenia would be risky,
because this individual may no longer identify with his/her old community and vice versa.
Thus, the key element is which local community they used to belong to, where they could
feel safe, where their attachments are. [...] Yet, in the last three or four years no incidents, no cases of active or open discrimination
against ethnic Azeris have been reported. Certainly, those who were able to leave have
indeed left. All those who for one or the other reason could not leave had to stay in the
country and somehow to accommodate to the present situation. This holds especially true
for older people, who had to stay there, because they were not mobile, or did not want to leave the country, because they had been living there their whole lives. Nowadays,
there are no indications that they are overtly discriminated against and they reportedly
receive their pensions, although they are as low as for everyone else."

Document(s): Arm-cois2002-rep.pdf

10.2002 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Societal discrimination against ethnic Azeris cannot be excluded ("Analysen und Hintergründe ") [#10328],  [ID 3069]

"Ausnahmen bilden binationale Ehen mit
Aseris und die aus ihnen hervorgegangenen Kinder, deren Anzahl jedoch so gering ist, dass
empirische Aussagen hierüber schwer fallen. Im Unterschied zu Berg-Karabach sind der
Verfarin in der Republik Armenien keine Angehörigen der aserischen Minderheit oder Kinder
aus binationalen Ehen bekannt. Der Menschenrechtsbericht des U.S. Department of State
geht seit Jahren ohne nähere Erläuterungen davon aus, dass in Armenien noch "einige
hundert Aseris oder Personen von gemischtem aserischen Erbe" leben, die unter "gesellschaftlicher
Diskriminierung" leiden. Vertreter der Regierung Berg-Karabachs sowie dortige
Vertreter nichtstaatlicher Organisationen bestätigen diese Aussage für die Verhältnisse in
Berg-Karabach. Sie betonen, dass es dort grundsätzlich von Seiten des Gesetzgebers oder
der Behörden keine Diskriminierung von Aseris gebe, dass aber eine Diskriminierung seitens
der Bevölkerung nicht ausgeschlossen werden könne. Die Akzeptanz hänge jeweils
von der Bereitschaft ab, sich - auch sprachlich - in die armenische Gesellschaft zu integrieren
sowie davon, ob der Aseri und seine Blutsverwandten an Akten der Massengewalt gegen
Armenier beteiligt waren oder nicht."

Document(s): Open document

09.2002 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

Ethnic Azeris ("Reisebericht Armenien 15.-21. Juli 2002") [#8888],  [ID 3070]

For statements of interviewpartners with regard to ethnic Azeris please refer to p. 7-9 (in German)

Document(s): acc-arm0902.pdf

14.06.2002 - Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Return of ethnic Armenian refugees: information on refugee status, citizenship, social and economic situation ("Auskunft an die Caritas: Ethnische Armenier aus Aserbaidschan") [#7461],  [ID 3071]

Document(s): hcr-aze0602.pdf

29.05.2002 - Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Letter to the Independent Federal Asylum Senate: Situation of ethnic Azeris in Armenia ("Stellungnahme an den Unabhängigen Bundesasylsenat: Armenien – Geiselnahme ethnischer Aseris") [#7257],  [ID 3072]

Document(s): hcr-arm0502-azeris.pdf