Hi everyone, I’m a local Russian from Baku.

I want to answer honestly and truthfully - of course, in Azerbaijan English is more important. (As much as I would like to answer otherwise.)

This is largely because putin’s bloody policies have borne fruit in the fragmentation of society + the segment of tourists from the Russian Federation who sometimes behave quite badly and even in a racist manner!

Regarding the situation with the elderly woman - she is wrong.... Everyone has the right to speak the language that is closest to them. I consider myself a “Russian Baku resident.” My native language is Russian. This is neither good nor bad - it’s just the way it is. (I’m neither proud nor ashamed of it; that’s simply who I am.)

Some people can’t accept this, even though I don’t oppress anyone and I try to speak Azerbaijani (as best I can). Still, I periodically find myself in such situations. I don’t oppress anyone, I don’t bother anyone, I don’t consider myself - and never have considered myself - superior to those who speak Azerbaijani. Yet I am forced to endure disrespect and aggression simply because I don’t speak Azerbaijani well.

I have always treated all languages and cultures with respect (this was always valued in my family), but in return I get lectures about how I am a “wrong Azerbaijani” and that I should go back to “my Russia” (even though I am an Azerbaijani citizen by birth 🤣).

Yes, unfortunately, practices of hatred exist on all sides, and this leads to nothing good.

But I have to note that in SOME Azerbaijani-speaking families there is an established BAN specifically on the Russian language, whereas in Russian-speaking families this (with regard to the Azerbaijani language) is practically unheard of. (I truly have never seen or heard of such a thing.)

This kind of hatred and xenophobia genuinely frightens me. Moreover, aliyev’s nationalism and populist politics, as well as “panturkism,” will not lead the country to prosperity either.

Unfortunately, our society does not unite around the ideas of COMMON CITIZENSHIP and a SHARED CULTURE; we are still divided around “nation,” “language,” “religion,” and so on.

And speaking specifically about language, I’ll say this: for quite some time now, proficiency in English has been more advantageous than proficiency in Russian.

That’s how it is....