Azerbaijan's multiethnic and multi-confessional nature is, on the one hand, a historical asset and an enduring value, on the other, a factor that has been tried and is being manipulated by external actors at various times.  The biggest success of the manipulators in this regard was the Karabakh conflict, which caused huge damage to the region. But all other projects failed. 

Attempts were made to use the ethnic factor to incite separatism in the north, south, and west of the country. They failed. Nevertheless, hopes for a rematch, according to some indications, are still alive. And in this case, we are not talking about Armenia.

In the early 90s, provocations were organized not only against Armenians. Attempts were also made to demonize the Azerbaijani people through provocations against the Russian population. These processes were controlled from the outside and were thought out to the smallest detail. However, the organizers were let down by the fact that they knew and understood Azerbaijan and the mentality of Azerbaijani society very poorly. The myths about "janissaries" with daggers in their teeth did not work. A part of the Russian population, succumbing to organized panic, left the republic, but a significant number of those who left soon returned. Once in a foreign land, people came to their senses and realized that they had become victims of manipulation, but in fact they were not in danger. It's just that times were hard, it was difficult for everyone, regardless of nationality.

Today, in the era of high technology and social media, it has become more difficult to manipulate people, because there are always other sources of information, and, like 35 years ago, no one can be fooled by the "bloody" inscription on the elevator door.

But what is especially interesting is that after so many years, Russian propaganda still does not know and does not understand Azerbaijan. The phrases voiced in a recent interview with the head of Rossotrudnichestvo, Yevgeny Primakov, suggest that they do not understand anything about interethnic relations in Azerbaijan and in the Russian community of our country.

Primakov expressed his "fi" to the Russian community of Azerbaijan for making "several statements in connection with the recent problems in Russian-Azerbaijani relations, but in support not of Russia, but of its state, Azerbaijan." "The position is clear, because their passport is Azerbaijani. Nevertheless, we would like to see more pronounced sympathy from our compatriots towards the mother Motherland. I believe that Russia deserves that our compatriots, while maintaining understandable loyalty to their own states, still treat Russia well," Primakov said.

Russian Russian authorities do not understand the difference between Azerbaijani Russians and Russians from, for example, the Baltic countries. That is why Primakov is so surprised by the reaction of Azerbaijani Russians to the situation. And he is not just surprised, but outraged, although he tries to hide his indignation behind diplomatic verbal constructions. As a rule, diasporas are always considered by the state as a fifth column within the states of residence. The Russian community of Azerbaijan has become out of the general picture. And Primakov clearly doesn't understand why.

Russian Russians, the Russian language, and everything related to Russia have always had a negative attitude in the Baltic states, throughout the years when the three republics were part of a single state. This attitude was determined by the historical context. Discrimination against the Russian-speaking population in these already independent countries, of course, cannot be justified by history. This is the wrong approach, and the example of Armenia has shown how wrong it is.

Azerbaijan, having regained its independence, did not follow this path, although it had much more reason to do otherwise. And these foundations were not only in ancient history. With Moscow's blessing and support - which is to hide what everyone already knows - the Karabakh conflict was imposed on Azerbaijan. If it were not for this support, Armenia would not have decided on war and occupation.

By the way, if anyone is unaware, as president, the late Elchibey tried in every possible way to cooperate with the then Russian community, events were held with the participation of the community's leadership, the last of which, as I recall, was held in the Palace of the Republic (now the Heydar Aliyev Palace). But he made a mistake, completely ruining relations with Moscow despite the fact that he had no resources for confrontation. As a result, Baku faced serious problems that it could not cope with. 

The Russians of Azerbaijan did not succumb to provocations and did not give themselves a reason to "save themselves." But Russian citizens and representatives of other national minorities fought on the fronts of the First Karabakh War. There are Russian names among the martyrs of the 44-day Patriotic War. Their memory is preserved and revered in Azerbaijan. As well as the memory of the Russian pilots, thanks to whose professionalism dozens of people who were on board the plane shot down by Russian air defenses over Grozny in December last year survived.

I must say that the information that Russians are also fighting for the liberation of Karabakh caused surprise in Russian public publications. Some experts openly expressed their bewilderment about this. In the propaganda's opinion, the Russian population should have perceived this war as if it were taking place on another continent - aloof. During the war, enemy propaganda tried to play an ethnic and religious card against Azerbaijan. But these efforts have not yielded results, because Azerbaijani society has been formed for centuries in conditions of tolerance and multi-confessional, which has become the basis of its strength and steadfastness in the face of the enemy. Christians, Muslims, and Jews liberated the occupied lands together, rejoiced at their victories and grieved over their losses. On Victory Day, all the churches of Azerbaijan rang the bells, festive prayer services were held in Orthodox churches and synagogues and martyrs were commemorated. During the 44 days of the war, churches of all faiths prayed for victory, for the Azerbaijani army, for the head of state, and for speedy peace. No one expected this, no one demanded it, it was a natural manifestation of the unity of a society in which there had never been national and religious hostility.

"The fact that prayers for peace and victory are being held in churches of all faiths throughout Azerbaijan today shows that we are united. Muslims, Christians, and Jews are all one people. Yes, we have different nationalities, different religions, but we all stand as one for our state, our Homeland," he said in an interview at the height of the war. Day.Az The press secretary of the Baku and Azerbaijan Diocese, Archpriest Konstantin Pominov.

In Russia, this position was perceived acrimoniously, as a result of propaganda or the use of administrative resources. But it was self-deception. Russian citizens participated in the battles for the liberation of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur, in the action on the Lachin road, and in all other important events for Azerbaijan on their own initiative and at the behest of their hearts. Because the Russian community is an integral part of Azerbaijani society, and not some isolated diasporic group. This is not called assimilation, which Evgeny Primakov is so worried about. This is not assimilation, but integration. Integration creates a natural environment of interaction and coexistence in which there is no ethnic and religious hatred. By integrating into Azerbaijani society, Russians do not lose their identity, their language, and their culture. The titular nation is not complacent when it hears another language or another music. The Azerbaijani people have deep enough roots not to worry about the fate of their identity and not to see other cultures as a threat.

Comrade Primakov would also be advised to watch a documentary about the Russian martyrs of the 44-day war, shot several years ago by Russian investigative journalist Evgeny Mikhailov. Maybe then he would have realized the illogic of his claims against the Russian community of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan is a country where Orthodox churches are repaired at the expense of the state, and not the Russian Orthodox Church, where Azerbaijani patrons invest in the restoration of Russian churches.

How are Russians living in Azerbaijan? No better or worse than all other members of society. The standard of living and opportunities in Azerbaijan are not determined by nationality or religious affiliation. All citizens are equal in their rights and duties. Of course, this does not mean that there are no problems at all. The main and only problem of the Russian population of Azerbaijan is ignorance or poor knowledge of the official language. This does not discriminate against citizens at the social, public, or household level, but it creates difficulties for career and development, and in the future it may create some difficulties in obtaining education, as the Russian sector in schools and universities will decrease. Until now, the widespread use of the Russian language in the country has created a comfortable environment, but this era is coming to an end. This is a completely natural process, and a completely legitimate one. It is not aimed at infringing on someone's rights. And we emphasize that the problem will affect not only the Russian population, but also a certain part of Baku residents of the titular nationality.

This is the only serious problem that Russians have or may have in Azerbaijan. But it is easily solved - just sign up for Azerbaijani language courses (which many of our fellow citizens are already doing). This is much easier than thinking about "repatriation" to unstable Russia, where for some reason ethnic strife and hostility with good neighbors are being intensified. And it is fueled not by the evil Anglo-Saxons, as the talking heads on Russian TV claim, but by their own internal provocateurs from politics.

In Azerbaijan, the level of civil rights has never been determined by the level of knowledge of the state language. But without his knowledge, it is impossible to move forward in a career, in business. It is ok. In Russia itself, they are going to introduce a Russian language proficiency test for migrant workers. but these people are not applying for citizenship, they are just going to earn money. Why are there such claims against Azerbaijan?

Azerbaijan owes nothing to anyone and owes nothing to anyone. He wants peaceful coexistence, good neighborliness and equal cooperation. He does not make secret plans against his neighbors, does not make insidious deals with partners and allies. Which so far includes Russia.