Yerazi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Yerazi people, sometimes written as Yeraz, are an Azerbaijani sub-group, also referred to as a clan, consisting of Azeris originally from what is now Armenia. The term Yerazi has double-meaning in the Azeri language: either meaning "Azeris from Yerevan" [1] or through the separate words "yeri" and "az", meaning a person without a place.
Due to longtime historic tensions between neighboring Armenia and Azerbaijan, virtually all Yerazi have left Armenia for Azerbaijan and other countries before tensions exploded with the Nagorno-Karabakh War. Because they developed with some different customs and cuisine from Azeris in Azerbaijan, the Yerazi have maintained a cohesive sub-culture within the country. Due to tension and cultural differences between Eastern Azeris and their Western cousins, the term "Yerazi" can be construed as a pejorative.[1]
[edit] Political power
In Azerbaijan, the Yerazi form a cohesive political clan that, along with the Nakhichevani clan, has dominated Azerbaijani politics since Soviet times.[2][3] Though born in Nakhichevan, the family of Heydar Aliyev, longtime President of Azerbaijan and father of its current President, originated from Armenia; as a result he essentially had a double-origin and strong political base in Azerbaijan's Western clans.[4] As the distribution of power in Azeri politics is based on clan and familial ties[5], these two Western Azeri clans have pushed other clans from power[2][4] and formed a pyramidal web of patronage built around Nakhichevanis and Yerazi clan groups[6].
The leader of the Yerazi clan is Jalal Aliyev, uncle of Azeri President Ilham Aliyev[5]. Ramiz Mehtiev, the head of the President's Executive Body, is another prominent member.[4] Before Jalal Aliyev, the unofficial leader of the Yerazi was Ali Insanov, a co-founder of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party and the former Health Minister of Azerbaijan for 12 years. Insanov and influential bureaucrat Akif Muradverdiyev were considered among the most powerful members of the Yerazi clan until they were sacked by President Ilham Aliyev for corruption before the November 2005 parliamentary elections.[3][7]
The Yerazi have two non-political movements: Ararat (Azeri: Alindja) and the Yerevan Unity (Azeri: Erevan Birliyi).[4] Originally founded by Insanov, Ararat acted as a vehicle to spread the clan's influence at the national level, particularly over the country's health system.[3]
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b Political glossary, Conciliation Resources, Accessed Dec. 14, 2006.
- ^ a b Azerbaijan Update, The European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity, November 24, 2006, Accessed Dec. 14, 2006.
- ^ a b c Ben Wetherall, Azerbaijan: President Aliyev Asserts His Authority on Eve of Parliamentary Elections, Global Insight, Accessed Dec. 14, 2006.
- ^ a b c d Azerbaijan: Turning Over a New Leaf?, Europe Report N°156, International Crisis Group, May 12, 2004, Accessed Dec. 14, 2006.
- ^ a b Philip Stephens, From east to west, Financial Times, October 28, 2005, Accessed Dec. 14, 2006.
- ^ Head of State: President Ilham Aliyev, October 2003-, International Crisis Group, September 22, 2004, Accessed Dec. 14, 2006.
- ^ Rovshan Ismayilov, Azerbaijan: Two More officials Sacked, Eurasianet, October 20, 2005, Accessed Dec. 14, 2006.
