What are Azerbaijani men in love. Five reasons why Azerbaijani guys choose Russian girls

We present to the attention of readers an analytical material written by a prominent scientist, Doctor of Historical Sciences Farid Alakbarli

Features of historical destiny, economic, socio-political, cultural and ideological environment refuse to influence the formation of the mentality of the people. At the same time, it is curious that sometimes peoples living far from each other, speaking different languages and professing different religions, show more similarities with each other in terms of national character than neighboring and closely related ethnic groups. The author of these lines had to go on business trips to almost all countries of Southern Europe - Italy, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Greece and both Cyprus, as well as neighboring Asian countries - Iran and Turkmenistan. Getting acquainted with the culture of various peoples, one involuntarily asks the question: “Which of them is closer to the Azerbaijanis in terms of mentality and culture?”

One people - two states

We are closely connected with Iran and Turkmenistan by ethnic, religious and cultural ties, but Azerbaijan is more in line with the Mediterranean and South European civilizational environment, which I will dwell on in more detail. Turkey comes to mind first: we have a common origin with the Turks and almost the same language. Any Azerbaijani can, while in Turkey, communicate with the local population without an interpreter. There is even a catchphrase - "one people, two states."

Despite this, there is no complete identity in the Azerbaijani and Turkish mentality. The difference in the outlook of the average Baku and Istanbul residents is comparable to the difference in the outlook of a Russian person from Moscow and a Western Ukrainian from Lvov. This is due to the fact that over the past 500 years, the historical destinies of the Turks and Azerbaijani Turks have evolved differently. Azerbaijan in 1813-1828 was included in the Russian Empire, while Turkey until 1922 itself was an empire that had "one foot" in Europe, the other - in Asia.

An inevitable consequence of the imperial past is patriotism based on national pride. In Turkey, it has a great-power character, which, again, is connected with the 500-year history of the Ottoman Empire. Unlike Turkish, the patriotism of Azerbaijanis is not imperial, great power, and is rather in the nature of attachment to their native culture, language and literature.

Every Turkish student knows

At the same time, the centuries-old military organization of Turkish society influenced the formation of the character of the Ottoman Turks. The Ottoman Empire was a gigantic military-administrative machine that for centuries functioned in a regime of constant wars, conquests and expansion of its territories. This empire could exist only while expanding, conquering and mastering more and more new territories. Therefore, Turkish society formed a type of citizen-soldier, and every Turk was a warrior in spirit, regardless of occupation - a peasant, a merchant, and a feudal lord. After the Turkish defeat at Vienna in 1683, the still mighty Ottoman Empire began to slowly but steadily shrink, gradually losing one territory after another, until it collapsed in 1922. But the militaristic spirit that persisted in society and among the ruling elite allowed Mustafa Kemal Atatürk to take revenge and revive Turkey as an important country in the region. Until now, every Turkish schoolchild knows by heart the words of Ataturk “I am proud of everyone who can say: “I am a Turk!”

Thus, the Turkish society, based on the centuries-old traditions of the Turkic military-feudal statehood, formed the type of citizen-warrior. What character traits does it suggest? Courage, restraint, seriousness, a certain asceticism, the concept of military honor, law-abiding, unquestioning obedience to orders, etc. The courage and perseverance of the Turks struck the Russian commander Alexander Suvorov in 1787 during the battle near the fortress of Kinburn. “What good fellows - I have not yet fought with such,” he wrote to the commander-in-chief, Prince G.A. Potemkin. As A.A. Svechin in the book “The Evolution of Military Art”, “the purely peasant composition of the army represented a similarity between the Turkish and Russian armies. The Turkish peasant, honest, hardworking, brave, easily subject to discipline, represented an element from which a soldier could be created with extraordinary speed.

Self-irony and nihilism are unacceptable

One of the key features of the Turkish national character is seriousness, i.e. serious attitude to life. Most Turks are not characterized by such features as irony and self-irony, as well as cynicism and nihilism, in one way or another inherent in most Levantine peoples, as well as Persians, Arabs, Jews, Italians, and partially Russians and some Transcaucasian peoples. The ability to laugh at oneself, and in general any kind of self-flagellation, is not characteristic of the Turks. For them, concrete-pragmatic rather than abstract-philosophical thinking is typical, as well as a contrasting perception of reality: a clear division of people into friends and foes, friends and enemies.

Turks are distinguished by rationalism, diligence and frugality, sometimes, from the point of view of foreigners, reaching the extreme. If you are invited to a treat in Istanbul, do not rush to buy tablets that facilitate digestion - festal or mezim-forte - because the tables will not burst with food. It is quite possible that the treat will consist of just one cup of coffee or a bottle of mineral water. The exception is banquets and refreshments organized at the expense of the state or sponsor organizations. Everything will be there - dolma, kebab, olives, salads, and everything else. At many Turkish weddings, the guest is served only one hot dish and one drink for free. Everything else the guest orders in the restaurant himself, at his own expense. This is a very sensible tradition that prevents unnecessary and burdensome waste.

pragmatism and romance

The Turks strictly follow the established rules. They do not tend to hesitate and doubt. They quickly make decisions based on a set of laws, rules and regulations that they unconditionally accept, and just as quickly, without hesitation, put them into practice. Relativism, that is, the idea that everything in the world is relative, is alien to most Turks. Strict adherence to rules and traditions, respect for elders in age, position or social status, unquestioning obedience to superiors and strict subordination are important features of the Turkish national character.

The Turks are not very talkative, they do not like “pointless” conversations on general topics, all kinds of philosophizing, which they regard as empty chatter and a waste of time. Any conversation is started by them for a specific purpose and has a clearly defined subject and time frame. When evaluating a person, the Turks first of all take into account his social status, that is, what step this person occupies in the social ladder. Depending on the conclusions drawn, the Turk will behave with this person either as a subordinate or as a boss - there are often no other alternatives.

With all this, in family and love relationships, Turks can be unexpectedly romantic, soft, sensitive and sentimental. Turkish humor is distinguished by its originality and is most close to German. The Turk will never allow himself to relax, joke or have fun during working hours (unless, of course, he works as a comedian or showman). However, on weekends, having allocated special time for entertainment in advance, the Turks relax and have fun from the heart, “to the fullest”. In this case, they wholly, one might say with a sense of responsibility, give themselves up to fun, accompanied by sincere, contagious laughter, dancing and collective music-making.

Turks are different

Turkey is a fairly large country. Therefore, despite the presence of the main unifying character traits, the mentality of Turks from different regions of the country can have its own specifics. So, among modern Turks (especially Western and Balkan) there are many descendants of Turkicized Slavs, Albanians and Greeks. In this sense, paradoxically, the mentality of the Western Anatolian and Balkan Turks is more similar to the mentality of the peoples of Central Europe, in particular the Slavs and Germans, than to the character of the Arabs, Persians, Transcaucasian, Levantine and South European peoples - Italians and Greeks. A partial but small analogy is observed only with the character of two other South European peoples - the Spaniards and the Portuguese, who in the past also had empires based on the military organization of society.

However, as noted above, it is necessary to take into account the fact that the Turkish ethnic group is multi-layered and heterogeneous. The population of the eastern regions of Turkey - Kars, Igdir, etc. - very close in language, customs and mentality to ethnic Azerbaijanis. In Turkey, they are even sometimes called "Azeri", "Azeri Turkleri" ("Azerbaijani Turks or Turks"). What features of the mentality distinguish modern Azerbaijanis? In general, the majority of Azerbaijanis are characterized by such character traits as hospitality, generosity, generosity, sometimes reaching wastefulness, devotion to the family and family traditions, respect for elders and love for children. For them, self-sacrifice for the benefit of the family and loved ones, diligence are typical. Moreover, having flexible thinking and ingenuity, Azerbaijanis try to organize their work in such a way as to obtain the greatest results at the lowest cost of labor.

What is eccentricity and infantilism for an Azerbaijani?

Most Azerbaijanis are pragmatists. Moreover, the pragmatism of Azerbaijanis often turns into utilitarianism and conformism, which is characteristic of all Middle Eastern peoples, including Arabs, Persians, Jews (although among European Jews it is combined with "European" features of the mentality), etc. In Azerbaijani society, losers do not evoke any sympathy: they are more likely to be condemned and despised than pitied. Therefore, every Azerbaijani strives to achieve success in life, including material well-being. Based on this, he gives preference only to those activities that bring a practical result. Doing something “just like that”, exclusively “for the sake of interest” is not characteristic of most Azerbaijanis and is considered by them as eccentricity and infantilism.

Azerbaijanis are characterized by a tendency to irony and self-irony, self-criticism, a sense of humor, cunning, love of fun and entertainment, a certain relativism of thinking, that is, the belief that everything in the world is relative. They are distinguished by love for beautiful things, comfort and well-being. Having a rich national cuisine, Azerbaijanis love to eat delicious food, there are many gourmets among them. In general, Azerbaijanis are peaceful, but emotional and quick-tempered, especially if their honor and dignity are hurt, as well as the feelings and interests of people close to them, family members and relatives.

Thrift and waste

As a rule, Azerbaijanis are sociable, like to talk, spend a lot of time with friends and relatives, whom they often visit. Sometimes, celebrating birthdays and other dates, they arrange magnificent feasts, spending many hours at the banquet table. At the same time, they usually do not consider costs and do not try to save money, even if they themselves are not rich and financially needy. They are characterized by a respectful attitude towards women and motherhood, as well as respect for elders and superiors.

Azerbaijanis love poetry, they are sweet-spoken, make long flowery toasts, often tell moralizing stories with philosophical overtones, as well as anecdotes and funny stories from their lives. They love graceful turns of phrase, hyperbole, and exaggeration. An important role in the mutual communication of Azerbaijanis is played by empathy - emotional empathy, sincerity. They do not tolerate the lack of communication, loneliness and isolation.

"Don't Lose Face"

Azerbaijanis communicate with friends on an equal footing, directly and sincerely. But, with all his sincerity, an Azerbaijani, being in society, tries to behave somewhat restrainedly, not to show all his emotions, feelings and experiences. He usually carries himself with dignity and confidence, even when "things are bad" and things go awry. This is what Azerbaijanis call "behaving like a man." It makes no sense to cry in a vest, show your weaknesses, talk about your failures, even to close people: they would rather laugh than regret. This is more true for men, but to some extent for women too, especially when it comes to relationships within a female company.

Public opinion plays a huge, sometimes enslaving role in the life of an Azerbaijani. For an Azerbaijani, it is very important how he looks in the eyes of others, what relatives, colleagues, neighbors and people in general say about him. This somewhat constrains his personality. For example, he is unlikely to wear an unusually cut suit, even if he really likes it, for fear that "people will laugh." True, in recent times, especially among young people, this trend is weakening: people more freely show their individuality in clothing, behavior and lifestyle.

For an Azerbaijani, the most terrible thing is to lose dignity or, as they say, “to lose face”, “lose face”. Therefore, for example, no matter how much an Azerbaijani drinks, you almost never see him lying drunk on the street. For the same reason, when celebrating the wedding of his son, an Azerbaijani will try to hold it at the highest level, sometimes allowing unjustified wastefulness, even if for this he has to go into debt or spend hard-earned money over many years. When receiving a guest, an Azerbaijani will put all the best on the table, even if this is the best - the last. At the same time, he will not be concerned about what he himself will eat the next day - tomorrow it will be seen.

Tolerance for violations

Most Azerbaijanis are not ethno-nationalists. They are not characterized by ethnic xenophobia, they are tolerant towards representatives of other nations and religions. Azerbaijanis are carriers of a predominantly secular worldview, although for the most part they do not consider themselves atheists. However, even among the few most religious part of the population, faith usually does not take on the character of fanaticism. This is largely due to the relativism and pragmatism inherent in the character of Azerbaijanis. Due to the feudal, regional and clan fragmentation that existed in the past, among Azerbaijanis, as well as among Italians, regional self-consciousness (parochialism) sometimes prevails over the national one, which often leads to manifestations of regionalism and tribalism in society.

A long stay in the USSR, where people lived not according to laws, but according to “concepts”, formed among some Azerbaijanis, like some representatives of other Soviet peoples, a tolerant attitude towards violations of the law and abuse of official position. Azerbaijanis prefer to build relations not so much according to official instructions, but within the framework of informal relations based on friendly, family ties and mutual agreement. This feature, to a greater or lesser extent, is inherent not only to Azerbaijanis, but to many other peoples of the former USSR. At the same time, Azerbaijanis usually keep their word, because they consider it a “matter of honor”. Adherence to family values among Azerbaijanis is even stronger than among Turks. Family for an Azerbaijani is the main thing. Everything else, taken together, is not even in second, but in third place. The mentality of the southern (Iranian) Azerbaijanis has some specific features, but in general is close to the character of the Azerbaijanis of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

And the national character can change

However, it should also be borne in mind that the national character of peoples, including Azerbaijanis, is not static and is capable of changing over time along with changes in the socio-political, ideological and cultural environment. Thus, the collapse of the socialist system, the development of a market economy and, most importantly, the acquisition of political independence have had and continue to have an impact on the mentality of the young generation of Azerbaijanis. The first thing that catches the eye is the growth of national self-consciousness, a sense of national pride and a sense of self-sufficiency. Young people, to a much greater extent than the older generation, are aware of themselves as representatives of a separate, independent, full-fledged ethnic group and a state that is not an appendage of a larger state and territorial entity. Memories of the USSR and the “united Soviet people” have practically disappeared from the memory of the younger generation.

In addition, young people show such traits as civil and national dignity, an acute negative reaction to attempts to insult the symbols and attributes of the state, intolerance to the violation of their national, ethnic and civil rights. All this, again, is due to the fact that the new generation has grown up and formed already in a completely independent state. The elimination of the "Iron Curtain", contacts with foreign peers, studying abroad, visiting foreign countries, the rapid spread of the English language and Internet technologies have led to the ever-increasing integration of Azerbaijani youth into the global intercultural and intercivilizational dialogue. The harsh conditions of the market economy have shaped in the younger generation such character traits as great efficiency and practicality, reducing the dependency and infantilism characteristic of the Soviet era.

With the passage of time, the way of life of people also changes. For example, the lesser and lesser use of alcohol by the youth of Azerbaijan attracts attention. A bottle of vodka, as a common attribute of many feasts, is increasingly being replaced by a kettle of tea with a variety of oriental sweets. Abundant and wasteful feasts become rare and are replaced by more modest and economical meals. And the point here is not only the lack of money among the population. The very style of life has changed, the psychology of people has undergone a change, their value orientations have become different. The younger generation of Azerbaijanis is generally indifferent to alcohol and feasts, as they do not get much pleasure from gluttony and drunkenness. Instead, in their free time, young people follow the latest in world cinema, go to concerts, attend cultural events, or simply play backgammon or dominoes and drink tea with friends in teahouses.

Azerbaijani "Generation "P""

Today's youth is less romantic, contemplative and dreamy, but more industrious and pragmatic - they work hard and hard. In their free time, many young people are interested in computers, smartphones, iPhones, follow new fashion trends and the latest car brands, go to gyms and fitness clubs. Representatives of a more educated and inquisitive stratum read books, collect and engage in other intellectual entertainment. However, there is some concern that, in general, the younger generation has begun to read less. Books are sold poorly, because young people get the main information from the Internet.

Also noteworthy is the growth of individualism among young people, manifested by later marriage, the reluctance of many couples to have a third and even a second child, which is observed not only in the metropolitan metropolis, but already in many provincial cities and even villages. The accelerated pace of life leads to a certain weakening of social ties, limiting communication with friends, relatives and neighbors. People, even representatives of the older generation, are now less likely to visit each other and communicate.

And other nations...

And now let's turn our eyes to the mentality of other peoples of the South Caucasus and Southern Europe and try to compare it with the Turkish and Azerbaijani mentality. In contrast to the national self-consciousness of the Turks, the nationalism of some Transcaucasian peoples, in particular the Armenians, as well as the Greeks, is devoid of elements of great power and is purely ethnic in nature. It is characterized not by ideas about the global imperial mission of its people, but by ideas about its uniqueness and exclusivity, sometimes accompanied by attempts to withdraw into its national shell so as not to undergo national and linguistic assimilation. Depopulation, a decrease in the birth rate, an increase in the number of immigrants, a decrease in the percentage of the indigenous population causes many small peoples to fear extinction, which gives a peculiar coloring to their nationalism, distinguishing it from the great-power nationalism of large, formerly imperial, peoples. The nationalism of a small people is inherent in such ethnic groups as, for example, Greeks, Armenians, and some other peoples of the South Caucasus.

Mussolini doesn't count

The Italians stand apart in this row, because they are not characterized by either a great-power worldview or the ethnic nationalism of a small people. There are enough Italians that they are not afraid of losing their language, national culture, being assimilated or disappearing from the face of the earth. At the same time, Italy was never an empire, and Italian society was not built on a militaristic basis. The Roman Empire and the short, caricature period of Mussolini's rule don't count. Mentally and culturally, Italy is not the heir of the Roman Empire, but of the city-states of the Renaissance. Due to the late formation of a single state and a common Italian community, the national identity of the Italians is not very clearly developed, giving way to parochialism and regional patriotism. The national pride of Italians is built, first of all, on the love for the phenomenon of Italian culture, which includes artistic and architectural heritage, music, cuisine, etc.

Despite the proximity of the Italian language to Spanish and Portuguese, the national characters of these three peoples are quite different from each other. This is especially evident in the example of such closely related ethnic groups as the Spaniards and Italians. Italians are often able to understand up to 70% of Spanish speech, and vice versa, that is, their languages are partially mutually intelligible. The differences between Spaniards and Italians are somewhat similar to the differences between Turks and Azerbaijanis. Just like the Turks, the Spaniards in the past had an empire and owned vast territories in Europe, South and Central America, Oceania, etc. True, this empire collapsed a little earlier than the Ottoman one, so the Spaniards' memories of the imperial past are not as fresh as those of the Turks.

Nevertheless, the Spanish national character remained, which for centuries was forged in an atmosphere of constant bloody wars and conquests. The Spanish state was born in the XIV-XVI centuries. in the fire of the reconquista - a stubborn, bloody war for the liberation of the region from the Arab invaders, who had ruled the Iberian Peninsula for more than six centuries. This was followed by the unification of the country, the conquest of vast territories in Italy and Holland, there were overseas expeditions, the discovery of America and the seizure of previously unknown lands of the New World. Unlike the more complacent and less warlike Italians, the Spaniards have always been distinguished by greater firmness and decisiveness of character, and in the Middle Ages by cruelty and ruthlessness, which manifested themselves both in the bonfires of the Inquisition blazing until the 18th century, and in the conquest of the Indians of South and Central America.

New Spaniards

Of course, times have changed, and with them the character of the Spaniards has changed. Modern Spaniards are a peaceful, politically correct European people. However, many have retained the basic mentality traits rooted in the past, such as greater firmness and “sharpness” of character than the Italians, relative restraint in the manifestation of feelings, as well as categorical judgments and decisiveness in actions. Compared to Italians, many Spaniards seem to be more serious, less emotional, less playful and carefree. They don't have that over-the-top artistry, and they don't tend to play for the crowd all the time.

Spaniards often look dignified, and sometimes even dry and sullen in concentration. Of course, we are talking about average individuals, and not about all representatives of the people, because in every nation you can meet a variety of people. In general, the confidence, pride, seriousness and determination of the Spaniards partly brings them closer to the Turks, who also had an empire based on the military organization of society in the recent past. However, among the Turks, all the listed features of the mentality are much brighter and sharper.

Patriotism Italian and Azerbaijani

As for the various forms of patriotism, Azerbaijani patriotism has much in common with Italian patriotism, while Turkish patriotism is more similar to Russian or British patriotism, and Armenian patriotism is more similar to Greek patriotism, which is the ethno-nationalism of a small people. Although the total number of Greeks is approaching 20 million, they are carriers of ethnic nationalism, more characteristic of small peoples. At the same time, one should not forget that at one time the Greeks played a truly gigantic, fateful and incomparable role in the development of the entire human civilization.

People versed in history know that the basis of modern European, and not only European, civilization is the ancient Greek heritage and Hellenistic culture, which spread throughout the ecumene in the era of Alexander the Great. However, in the future, the phenomenon of Greek culture gradually lost its global significance, and the Greek ethnos itself became isolated in a narrow regional and ethno-national framework.

As for the Azerbaijanis, they, not being, like the Turks, an imperial people, at the same time are not a small, and even more relic, ethnic group with a type of mentality inherent in such peoples. In terms of population, historical fate and some features of national self-consciousness, Azerbaijanis are close to such peoples as Italians or Ukrainians. Despite the fact that the population of the Republic of Azerbaijan is only 10 million people, more than 30 million Azerbaijanis live in Iran. The total number of Azerbaijanis living in the world exceeds 50 million people. Thus, the Azerbaijanis are the second largest Turkic people in the world, yielding in this respect only to the Turks, who number about 70 million.

Large scale self-awareness

In addition, an extremely important, but often not taken into account, factor is that, along with a purely ethnic and national-state self-identification, Azerbaijanis have elements of an “expanded” general Turkic and general Muslim self-consciousness deeply rooted in the subconscious, as a result of which they instinctively feel themselves inseparable part of a vast civilizational area covering hundreds of millions of people.

Despite this, the Azerbaijani people are not the bearers of the pronounced "imperial" mentality inherent in the Turks of Turkey. Although in the Middle Ages the ancestors of Azerbaijanis also created empires - the Turkic Kaganate, Karakoyunlu, Akkoyunlu, the state of the Safavids - but they all correlate with the modern Azerbaijan Republic in much the same way as the Roman Empire with present-day Italy. The modern Italian national identity did not grow out of the imperial ideology of ancient Rome, but out of the Italian feudal states of the Renaissance, such as Florence, Venice, Genoa, etc.

Influence of Russian and Persian

The fact is that the Roman Empire has not existed for more than 1500 years, and it was swept away, completely destroyed and crushed by the barbarians. That is, a catastrophe occurred, as a result of which everything perished: the people, the state, the country, its culture and civilization. Time connection is broken. This did not happen in Turkey. The Ottoman Empire has existed for about 90 years and during the previous 500 years, it has never been conquered or enslaved by any state. On the contrary, having won brilliant military victories over the countries of the Entente - Great Britain and France - in the 20th century, it gradually degenerated into the Republic of Turkey. Thus, the national worldview of modern Turks directly grew out of the imperial, Ottoman self-consciousness, which was reformed and received new content during the years of the Young Turks.

The Azerbaijani mentality was formed in a somewhat different social, cultural and historical environment. Due to historical reasons, the population of Azerbaijan, which in the past was part of the Russian Empire, the USSR and Iran, was greatly influenced by the Russian and Persian languages, culture and mentality. Thus, the difference between the Azerbaijani mentality and the Turkish one is largely due to the fact that the khanates of Azerbaijan in 1813-1828. lost their independence, becoming part of the Russian Empire. Although re-independence was won in 1918, after the collapse of the Russian Empire, already in 1920 the Red Army occupied Azerbaijan again, which remained part of the USSR until 1991. In terms of historical fate, Azerbaijan has much in common with Ukraine, which was also conquered and divided by invaders several centuries ago.

The similarity of the national character of Italians and Azerbaijanis

Returning to Italy, it must be noted that there are neither elements of great-power nationalism nor the nationalism of a small but ambitious people, which is usually a combination of megalomania, persecution and a carefully concealed inferiority complex, in the character of Italians. As already noted, the patriotism of Italians is rooted more in the pride of their cultural heritage - art, architecture, music, cuisine, customs, lifestyle. This is the similarity of the national character of Italians and Azerbaijanis.

However, there are also differences. In particular, an important difference between Italian history and Azerbaijani and, for example, Ukrainian history lies in the fact that the medieval feudal states of Italy never completely lost their independence. Despite the fact that some of the northern territories of Italy were at one time captured by Austria, the southern and central territories by Spain, and the island of Sicily was ruled by the Arab Caliphate for more than 300 years, the whole of Italy was never totally occupied and turned into a colony of another state.

In contrast, small medieval Italian states such as the Republic of Venice often represented significant financial and military power and successfully fought even giants such as the Ottoman Empire. That is why the Italians do not consider their national rights to be grossly violated, do not see themselves as a victim and do not experience much pain and regret in connection with their historical fate.

In particular, the character of the Italians, who never completely lost their national independence, is not characterized by the post-colonial syndrome characteristic of the psychology of the inhabitants of many republics of the former USSR, including Azerbaijan and Ukraine. This syndrome manifests itself in attempts to finally free oneself from the colonial heritage, in particular, the dominance in society of alien languages, traditions and ideologies once imposed by invaders, as well as in disputes over one’s own national and cultural identity, attempts to formulate one’s national idea, to assert oneself and occupy worthy place in the community of independent nations and states. But this is a topic for a separate discussion.

Farid Alekperli,
Doctor of Historical Sciences, Institute of Manuscripts of ANAS

17:10 | 09/14/2009 Two birds with one stone - one wife in Azerbaijan, the other - in Moscow

The Office of the Civil Registry Office of the city of Moscow has given very interesting figures that make a person think.

Imagine that every sixth or seventh marriage in Moscow is international. "During the eight months of 2009, 8248 marriages were concluded with the participation of foreign citizens, which is 956 more than in the same period last year," the Russian media reported.

According to statistics, Moscow brides and grooms are most popular with citizens of Turkey, Germany, Israel, Great Britain, the USA, Italy, and France. The leaders among the CIS states are Ukraine, Armenia, Moldova, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. Every year, foreign citizens from more than 100 foreign countries register marriages in Moscow.

I wonder what factors make Azerbaijanis working in Russia to create families with Russian girls, while most of these people have families in Azerbaijan? What attracts Azerbaijani men to Russian girls and vice versa? Vesti.Az asked the head of the Women's Crisis Center Matanat Azizova to comment on this issue.

“It's no secret that a large number of the male population of our country leaves for Russia to work. Unfortunately, there is a trend when our men try to go there without their wives and children, which opens up great opportunities for them to meet women in a country where no one knows them. And one more fact - in order to live in Moscow legally, you need documents, and the easiest way is to marry a Russian citizen in order to obtain the right to reside in the future, and then citizenship. Basically, these are civil marriages, when with one shot they seem to kill two birds with one stone - one wife in Azerbaijan, the other in Moscow.

Russian and Ukrainian girls and women prefer more Caucasian men. The reason for this lies in the fact that in Russia it is difficult to imagine a man who does not drink. The image of a family man in Russia is sinking lower and lower. The Azerbaijani man, however, was brought up differently, our men are more respectful to the family, to the woman. For Russian girls, Azerbaijani men are a profitable match,” she said.

According to Azizova, “There are certain restrictions for Azerbaijani women - not to wear a short dress, not to work, not to drink alcohol, not to smoke. But the whole paradox lies in the fact that when crossing the border, our men begin to choose exactly the women available to them, that is, the Azerbaijani man becomes different. Even elementary, many Azerbaijani women ask themselves: “What is the difference between a mistress and a wife?” and uniquely answer this question: "A mistress is more open and liberated than a wife." An Azerbaijani man in a Russian woman likes openness in intimate relationships, which is also an incentive for creating family relationships,” she summed up.

IT IS NO SECRET TO ANYONE THAT AZERBAIJANIAN MEN ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL... SOME SECRETS ABOUT THEM, AS WELL AS RANKING: THE 10 MOST BEAUTIFUL AZERBAIJANIS... If you meet a man who looks like a Mexican, Arab or Englishman, most likely, this man is Azerbaijani . In fact, I cannot think of any specific image to describe an Azerbaijani man. There was a time when the Azerbaijani lands were in the possession of the Ottoman, and then the Russian Empire, and if we delve into the details, we can remember that we have Albanian and other roots. If you intend to meet with an Azerbaijani man, then I want to note a few nuances that you can expect from them. But please note that everything written by me is a generalized opinion and may not apply to everyone. Let's start. There will always be another woman between you! Please don't be nervous after reading this headline. By the other woman, I meant his mother. You must be ready to share your love with his mother. Remember one thing, his mother is always right. His mother never lies, does not take advantage of his opportunities and does not weave intrigues. All bad qualities and actions are inherent only in you, of course, all good qualities are inherent in his mother. In any case, each of us loves his parents, but the Azerbaijani son loves a little more. Azerbaijani men are smug! I'm not saying they're smug, they're just very self-confident. An Azerbaijani man is always pleased with the work he has done, and even if he did not do it very well, he will never allow anyone to speak badly about him. An Azerbaijani man always walks with his head held high, and demonstrates his self-confidence by walking proudly with his hands in his pants pockets. Azerbaijani men are owners and love to rule. When it comes to a woman, an Azerbaijani man can be the owner. You must live by his rules. If you are looking for a free, open, carefree relationship that will allow you to do whatever you want, then reconsider your desire to date an Azerbaijani man, as he will not agree to these conditions. If he gave you his heart and won yours, then you have already become his property. He will not share you with anyone, and sometimes even with girlfriends. Just understand that this is part of Azerbaijani culture! God help you! He loves beautiful poetry. Beautiful and high-quality things, fashionable clothes, breathtaking perfumes, clean shoes, a neat haircut, a freshly shaved face - all this and much more is very important for an Azerbaijani man. Azerbaijani men are interested in fashion in parallel with women and seriously monitor their appearance. In a word, you will never see an Azerbaijani man go on a date with a girl in a torn shirt or with dirty shoes, while in America this is sometimes normal. Remember, an Azerbaijani man is always right! Even if you are right for the hundredth time and the end of the world has come, there is no force in the entire galaxy that would prove to an Azerbaijani man that he is wrong! Remember, he is always right (just don't pressure him and keep quiet). Just accept it and trust that he will appreciate it later. If you don't believe me, then read the paragraph above on self-confidence. If need be, he'll take the moon out of the sky for you. Let me now tell you about the positive qualities of Azerbaijani men, that is, about what you might like. If you are ready to escape after reading all of the above, first take a minute and finish reading this, and then make a decision. Azerbaijani men are considered the most caring. They know how to make a woman feel the happiest and most beautiful. Believe me, he will love you at least as much as his mother loves and will take care of you. An Azerbaijani man understands the needs and desires of a woman well and has the power to appreciate her. And in the end I want to note one of the important points. Azerbaijani men are very handsome and attractive, I think you already understood this))

In our time, international marriages are the norm. Russian girls often marry foreigners, and marriages with Azerbaijanis are no exception. Why are foreign suitors preferred? What are Azerbaijani men like? First of all, oriental guys conquer girls with the ability to beautifully look after, make compliments. But is that what attracts them?

About what kind of people they are, Azerbaijani men, and will be discussed in the article.

Azerbaijanis: general characteristics of men

Most of them are short - 170-175 centimeters. They have thick black eyebrows and large facial features, but despite this, typical Caucasian facial features are absent. First of all, they have a straight nose and fair skin.

They are always strictly and elegantly dressed and look at least stylish and respectable.

They are a calm and orderly people, in comparison with other Caucasian ethnic groups. Any conflict with them is settled without shouting and fist showdowns. But their Caucasian character still manifests itself: during the celebration of national or religious holidays.

These people are long-livers, the average life expectancy of Azerbaijani men is 70-72 years. There is a village of Talysh in the republic, where the age of many residents reaches 110 years.

Characteristic features of appearance

What are they, Azerbaijani men, in appearance?

As the Soviet anthropologist Alekseev Valery noted:

Azerbaijanis are darker-eyed than Georgians and Armenians;
more than half of the representatives of this people have blue-black hair;
their face is narrow and slightly elongated;
the nose protrudes very strongly;
the hairline is moderately developed (slightly less than that of Georgians).

Attitude towards marriage

It should be remembered that Azerbaijanis are Muslims. In the past, a man, according to Islamic traditions, could have several wives (maximum 4). However, polygamy is now prohibited by law in Azerbaijan. The attitude towards this phenomenon in the country is extremely negative.

Azerbaijanis are very responsible for both marriage and family. They are strictly guided by the Koran, which states that marriage is a part of religion, and the most faithful believers are those who respect and honor their wives.

It should be noted that the Koran does not prohibit marriages between a Muslim and a Russian, but it is considered better if the girl converts to Islam. Such unions are possible only if the consent of relatives is obtained.

A family

What are Azerbaijani men like in marriage? In a family, both husband and wife have their own rights and duties.

First, a man provides materially for his family. Secondly, he is obliged to take care of his wife, her health and mental state, to pay attention to her. Men love to have a woman obey them unquestioningly, even in matters such as choosing an outfit.

Before, women stayed at home and raised children. But over time, this tradition disappeared. Modern Azerbaijani women have the opportunity to work.

Pragmatism

Which by Most of them - pragmatists. In society, male losers do not evoke sympathy, but on the contrary, they are condemned or even despised. That is why every man strives to achieve success and material well-being. They choose only those areas that can bring benefits. They have no such thing as "work for the soul."

Men are prone to self-irony and irony, criticism and self-criticism. They have a great sense of humor, can be cunning, love entertainment and fun. They love beautiful things, comfort and convenience, as well as very tasty food.

The character of Azerbaijani men is peaceful, but quick-tempered, if their dignity and honor, interests and feelings of close relatives are offended.

Sociability

As a rule, Azerbaijani men are sociable, love to talk, spend a lot of time with relatives and friends, often receive guests and go to visit. Celebrating holidays, arrange magnificent feasts.

Men respect women, elders, and superiors.

Many men love poetry, they themselves know how to speak beautifully, making long and eloquent toasts, often telling instructive or funny stories. The main role in communication is played by sincerity and empathy. They do not tolerate loneliness and lack of communication.

"Do not fall into the mud face"

In the circle of friends, everyone is equal, they communicate sincerely and directly. But still, a man tries to behave with restraint, never demonstrates emotions, experiences and feelings. As a rule, they are confident in society, with dignity, even if their affairs are going very badly. It's called "acting like a man."

Talking about your failures, complaining, showing your weaknesses in society is not accepted, they just laugh.

And public opinion plays a huge role in a man's life. It is important for him how he looks in the eyes of others, what they say and think about him.

Among young people, this trend is somewhat weakened, young people more freely show their individuality in behavior, clothing, and lifestyle. But for an Azerbaijani of any age, the most terrible thing is to lose dignity, to “lose one's face in the dirt”. For example, you will never see an Azerbaijani lying drunk on the street anywhere. When receiving guests, the host will put all the best on the table, even if it is the last.

Nepotism

The long stay of the Republic as part of the USSR formed a tolerant attitude towards violations of the law and abuse of office among some Azerbaijani men. They prefer to build relationships based on mutual agreement and family ties. This feature is inherent not only to Azerbaijanis, but also to many other peoples of the former USSR. But it should be noted that an Azerbaijani always keeps his word, as this is a “matter of honor” for him.

Tolerance

Azerbaijani men in most cases are not nationalists. They are not characterized by xenophobia, that is, they treat representatives of other nationalities very well. They are carriers of the Soviet worldview, the only difference is that they do not consider themselves atheists.

But faith and religiosity usually does not take on the character of fanaticism.

civic dignity

Young people show such traits as national dignity. They sharply and negatively react to any attempts to insult the attributes and symbols of the state. All this is due to the fact that the new generation has already grown up in a completely independent state. The conditions of a market economy have shaped young Azerbaijanis such character traits as practicality and efficiency.

Azerbaijani men: what are they like in love and relationships

What attracts women in Azerbaijani men?

They, like all men, love with their eyes. To please such a man, you need to be beautiful and well-groomed. Men are very fond of femininity. And the more elegant and brighter a woman looks, the better. What are they, Azerbaijani men in a relationship? Men are very fond of indulging women's whims. But you need to be capricious beautifully, coquettishly.

They do not tolerate self-will and stubbornness. They are leaders by nature and do not like to be disobeyed. For a man, a woman is the keeper of the family hearth and the mother of his children. That is why they prefer her to stay at home and take care of family affairs: she cooks deliciously, does laundry, maintains order, takes care of children, and so on.

In their understanding, the best self-realization of a woman is to be a mother and wife.

On the Internet, on thematic forums, many women share their opinions on how to behave with Azerbaijani men, what kind of character they are. But the most charismatic opinion belongs to TV presenter Musevi Gunel, an Azerbaijani by origin living in the United States. She published her opinion about Azerbaijani men in the EveryAzeri online magazine. What are they, in her opinion?

They look like a Mexican, an Englishman and an Arab put together.
They are very reverent, respectful and loving towards their mothers.
Self-satisfied and self-confident.
They always walk with their heads held high and demonstrate their confidence.
Azerbaijani men love to rule, they are big owners. You need to live by their rules and always obey, agree with all the conditions.
They love beautiful poetry.
They like beautiful things, fashionable clothes, branded perfumes - all this is very important to them. They are interested in fashion sometimes more than women.
They are ready for any sacrifice for the sake of their chosen ones.
They are very caring, they will do everything to make a woman feel happy.

Everything is changing

Young Azerbaijanis are very different from the men of the middle generation. National self-consciousness and pride are striking. They are more aware of themselves as citizens of a separate independent state.

Young people practically do not drink alcohol. Feasts are accompanied by drinking tea with oriental sweets.

Young people follow the latest movies, attend the theater, go to concerts, play dominoes or backgammon.

Modern young people are less romantic and dreamy. They are more pragmatic and hardworking. They like to devote their free time to sports, self-education, self-development.

The youth has become more individual. The accelerated pace of life has led to the fact that social ties have weakened, communication with relatives and friends has been limited. Even middle-aged men visit less and spend time with friends lately.

Instead of a conclusion

The article revealed the characteristic features of Azerbaijani men, what they are in love, relationships and everyday life. But remember that each person is different. One is very thrifty, another is extravagant, the third is a miser, the fourth is economical. Everything is very individual, and the character traits of an Azerbaijani man described in the article may be absolutely not characteristic of any particular person. In this case, the axioms simply do not exist ...