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Hello, friends. In February of this year, in Azerbaijan’s State Philharmonic Theater a very symbolic concert took place.
Performed by Azerbaijan’s State Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Russian conductor, Vladimir Verbitsky,
a great Russian composer’s, Sergei Prokofiev’s oratorio “Ivan Grozniy” (“Ivan the Terrible“)was heard.
This piece was used in 1942 as an oratorio,
but prior to that, its base was taken from a music written for famous Russian director’s, Eisenstein’s, movie “Ivan the Terrible”.
This piece, put it this way, in 1942, in relation to the events taking place in Soviet Union, in relation to the war,
was very extreme, very patriotic, revitalizing within itself a feeling of Russia being an imperial, imperialist, a very big empire.
As is evident from the title of “Ivan the Terrible”, it conveys the times of Ivan the Terrible, and
this time, in the role of the declarer, People’s Artists of Azerbaijan, Avaz Abdullayev, was taking part.
From Ivan the Terrible’s name, sending very threatening messages, in the part of a declarer, he was performing beautifully.
Windows shattered by stones propelled,
Outside the window, there is fire Zamoskvarechye is lit!
In the courtyard, the nation is buzzing! Flames are raging outside!
Are you inciting the nation against me, sirs?! Are going against Russia’s power of unity?!
It is not peace, but swords that you desire, It is swords that you should know!
At that time, this concert, had a certain --, in my opinion, it can be characterized as a certain message, and
considering that Baku’s Russian consulate was present in the audience, it can be concluded that, it is interesting,
usually during such concerts, some message is delivered to the people, some statement is given, an idea is promoted.
It is interesting that this year we live in, 2013, for Azerbaijan, is very symbolic, encompassing in itself a historic period.
In the year 1813, in the District of Gulustan, pursuant to a signed treaty, a big portion of Azerbaijan, was turned over to Russia, was annexed to Russia.
and this year, marks the 200th year of this historical event.
Of course, a takeover of any nation, even if we want to, cannot be regarded as a positive event, even if we want to,
but, we are currently living in the 21st century and should evaluate these events from our heightened observation point.
It is without a doubt, that a 200 year old history, is in need of a detailed analysis,
and these 200 years for Azerbaijan; the sort of conclusions, the sort of effects, it brought, we need to visualize them,
because in order to move forward, to step into the future, a comprehensive understanding of the past is necessary.
A takeover that occurred 200 years ago, was in reality a historic necessity.
Meaning this takeover, expending in every direction, was coming forward from the Russian empire’s very passionate determination,
and this Azerbaijan khanates, let us put it this way, relatively enough independent khanates,
at certain point, being taken over by strengthening Iran and, clearly, as evidenced by the history, by Russia, was inevitable.
In these events, let us put it this way, we were not acting as a subject, but as an object.
There are very important difference between a subject and an object.
During these 200 years, a lot has been written and said about the kind of effects Russia had on Azerbaijan.
During Soviet times, of course, this was unequivocally viewed as a positive event.
After, after the fall of the Soviet Union, enough number of different views emerged,
and I believe, currently, in the 22nd year of independence, we have enough bases in our hands to evaluate this with sufficient objectivity.
First of all, a very important matter, was the factor of the 19th century in itself for Russia.
19th century in the history of Russia, shows itself, with unseen reforms.
First, if we go back only a century, to the year 1812, at this time, with Napoleon’s attack, this was the beginning of first big civil war in Russia.
This war’s positive effects on Russia is not doubted,
because with Russian army’s each opening to Europe, each move to Europe, the progressive views would leak into the Russian society and would show themselves.
In 1925, the revolt of the Dekabristy (“Decembrists”), in reality this was a revolt of the government, the act of the Decembrists, the importance of this was not minimal.
The soldiers that had come from France, all the progressive structures that they had witnessed in Europe,
to be carried to Russia, to be brought to Russia, to be incorporated into Russia, let us put it that way,
was seen as a necessity by them, because they were imagining Russia as part of Europe.
During the entire course of 19th century, this state continued.
During the times of Alexander II, Alexander II has been marked in Russian history with the title of Tsar Osvabaditel’ (“Tsar the Liberator”),
meaning the emancipation, the emancipation of serfs in 1861, was a sufficient progressive act.
Because the effect of this on Azerbaijan that was turned over to Russia, was inevitable.
In the feudal structure that existed in Azerbaijan, our people, practically as students of Russia, had the ability to make use of these freedoms.
Whether they did or not, this, of course, is another question, a historic question, but practically, this type of freedom was already given to them.
Another important factor, one of the most important factors, was the establishment of the Transcaucasian Railroad.
In 1883, Baku-Tbilisi Railroad is completed and this is very, very, important factor for a unity of a country.
Roads, in any country’s infrastructure, is of an exceptional importance and at the same time, carries a character of unity,
because infrastructure is created around the roads, around the roads, whether desired or not, around the railroads industrial societies are being constructed,
and during that time, already in Baku, the burst of oil, the burst of industrialism was prospering, was already about to fully prosper.
The Russian progressives’ influence on our literature, and in general on our society, is without a doubt.
It has been written about, it has been spoken about.
It is interesting that only a year before 1813, playing an exceptional role, in our, in general, in the creation of the idea of Azerbaijan in itself, Mirza Fatali Akhundov, is born.
And Mirza Fatali Akhundov, let me mention an interesting detail, Mirza Fatali Akhundov, as a writer, was completely under the influence of Europe,
of course, being inspired by Russians, raised under the influence of the Russian culture. Mirza Fatali, practically was acting on behalf of the atheists.
This was completely coinciding with the times in Europe. At that time in Europe, in the 19th century,
let’s put it this way, to education, to technology, to technological development, to human prosperity in general, there was a very naïve belief.
In Europe, it could be said, that in these fields of prosperity, a person who was not an atheist, was practically considered a barbarian, let’s put it this way.
In this sense, the representatives of Russian literature, the most distinguished ones, Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy, practically, in their work, let’s put it this way, saw the solution in religion.
Each in their own way, each in their own style, of course, each with their own path, but, practically, these are religious didactics.
Each author’s promoted ideas, the solution for humanity, a human’s heart, in general a being’s salvation, is seen to be in religion.
Akhundov, however, completely denied it.
And this being, at the end of 19th century, during that exact period, strictly being as a reforming idea, it is impossible not to consider its positive role.
Aside from this, Akhundov’s written language, Azerbaijani language, for the first time in the mid-19th century, strictly as a written language,
was already, serving as society’s means of communication, means of written communication, not talking about oral,
there is a very big difference between written and oral communication, approximately as big as between written and oral literature.
The ability of the Azerbaijani language to exceed the Farsi language existing at that time in our society, and to rise above it,
this is tied to Mirza Fatali Akhundov’s name and tied to his historic role.
About this, Tadeusz Swietochowski’s findings exist, and in the ‘90s, he was famous in Azerbaijan.
In his findings, it is written, that there was a governor’s letter written to Petersburg,
there it is mentioned that local Muslim nation, local Muslims, Transcaucasus’ Muslims, their literary language is Farsi, their written language is Farsi,
and, of course, without a doubt, a neighboring empire’s language to be used, within Russia itself, in a written form, was impossible not to have worried Russia.
It is mentioned in that letter that it will take, of course, at least 50 years for a Russian assimilation to occur, and until that time we have to attempt to lift the language of the local society,
because some other language should be put in front of the Farsi language.
and it is interesting that this is carried out specifically by general’s assistant, the one working as a general’s assistant, by Akhundov, and carried out very skillfully.
Beginning in the year 1850, six famous pieces are written until 1857, last one being “Mürafiə Vəkilləri” (“Defense Lawyers”).
These pieces, in Azerbaijan’s history, in Azerbaijan’s literature, and in Azerbaijan’s art, played an exception role,
at the very minimum in the creation of theater, and at the very minimum, in the development of our language.
Aside from this, a very important event, in 1901, creation of first female school and in 1908, an exceptionally important event,
Azerbaijan’s prominent composer’s, in general a big society figure’s, Uzeyir Hacibeyov’s staging of “Leyli and Mecnun” opera.
This event, was completely an exceptional event, because opera-theater was, approximately, starting from 17th, 18th, century in Europe,
let us put it this way, as a form, was a replacement of church.
First time it started in England, and over there, due to reforms, religion, had in the society, already being separated from the government,
had seized being part of the government, and opera-theater had taken on this function on itself,
the gathering of people, people always wanted to gather and hold discussions.
And in this sense, in Azerbaijan, for an opera to come out, for secular society’s formulation, is an exceptional factor, we can consider it as an exceptional factor.
In general, in the beginning of the 20th century, beginning of an enlightenment movement in Azerbaijan’s history takes an exceptional place.
A figure such as Mammad Amin Rasulzade emerging on the ground,
in 1911,organization of a party such as Musavat,
in 1906, a magazine such as “Molla Nasraddin”, and at the same time a magazine such as “Fyuzat”, in the same year both magazines began to be published,
their appearance on the ground was evident of a type of an exceptional Renaissance.
During such time, during such big Renaissance, it could be said tens and even hundreds of intellectuals were taking part in it, and this, without a doubt, was going to bear its own fruits.
In the year 1914, let us say it this way, both unexpected and expected Great World War, did not pass Azerbaijan by either, naturally,
and it had its deep consequences, and finally in 1917, resulted with the complete collapse of the Russian empire and had its own consequences on Azerbaijan.
Here there were both positive and negative effects. Positive effect, of course, being the creation of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.
But this creation, was not so much from the historical effects, as it was from historical opportunities,
seized by our intellectuals, who by that time were already capable of handling such complex matters.
Soviet era’s own history in itself is divided into several parts.
Soviet’s initial stages, let us put this way, was a total avant-garde period,
after 1927 a completely conservative period begins, and after 1937, a tragic time begins.
It is our, let us put it this way, that time results in Azerbaijan’s entire elites, intellectuals, the top layer of true elites of our society being destroyed.
And the effect of such destruction continues to show itself today. In my opinion, to date, this effect has not been repaired, the whole that was created still has not been filled.
Adding all this up, what conclusions can be drawn?
Of course, Russia for Azerbaijan, to date, still, is a big empire holding its exceptional influence over it.
To date, the influence of Russian language has not been ousted from Azerbaijan.
Of course, this is going to continue to remain for a very, very long time, and Russia will continue to remain for our country as an important government and culture.
But I wouldn’t want for the Stockholm syndrome to continue to remain in our society, a type of love, let’s say a victim feels for its oppressor to remain.
Usually, a society remaining apart from a metropolis, for a certain period of time, carry negative feelings toward the metropolis, even a xenophobia.
This is very normal and obvious historic process. But, just that, Stockholm syndrome has very heavy consequences.
Because, take a look, we are witnessing, today, a very rough process in Russia.
Of course, the events that took place in 1991, in general after the Gorbachov reform, in 1991, the events that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union were not very welcomed by the society.
Here, Boris Nikolayevich, now when we met, he handed me a short declaration from the cabinet of ministers,
which I haven’t read -- -So, go ahead and read it.
The events that took place after that, during Yeltsin’s times, the Chechen war, the Caucuses’ war, their deep, heavy, consequences were inevitable,
and this consequence, already, has shown itself, let’s put it this way, in a sort of revanchism, in a sort of resurrection of an empire,
even in ideas of xenophobia, even has led itself to fascist ideology, to groups supporting it.
Currently, to us, to our comrades, together with us, towards other people, in Russia, a very severe movement is taking place.
Even the opposition forces going towards the current government, it could be said that, all of them unite themselves around this ideology, or use this ideology,
even Alexei Navalny, even the organizations calling themselves liberal, are forced to join the xenophobia movement.
Because politics is such a field, I can’t recall who it was that said that,
a politician is a type of a person who should be running first towards the direction the society wants to take, so he is ahead.
And unfortunately, today, 200 years after the Gulustan treaty, we can’t say that Russia for us is a sort of a progress or a future direction for us.
Because the events taking place there, today’s events, are impossible to consider as being positive in any way.
Aside from this, it is evident that Russia, in the last 22 years, has not been able to develop and work any interesting, inviting, civilized model.
We have discussed Eurasian Union, about the idea being idle,
we have talked about it being a completely groundless, empty, idea, with enough sufficiency.
The current processes reveal that, for us, in this direction, unfortunately, very unfortunately, there is no inviting object remaining.
Meanwhile, in these last 20 years, in the Post-Soviet era, one of the most inviting models was not the big Russian empire, but little Georgia.
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The events taking place in Georgia in the last 10 years, cannot be disinteresting for our society.
It is possible that we can approach it negatively, or positively, it was interesting to me that Saakashvili, Georgia’s president in the last 10 years, who did reforms,
taking into consideration that he made big mistakes, this is all obvious,
but a photo of this person was published; president collecting his own items and leaving for his home.
This is an exceptional situation in post-Soviet region, and we, unfortunately don’t see this in Russia.
During the course of many years this notion of tandem, a modern auction game is remembered by everyone.
Today, Georgia’s civil model that Saakashvili attempted to create is more inviting to us than Russia’s xenophobic model.
Meanwhile, before Saakashvili became president, in 2002, I remember, an interesting debate took place,
between Saakashvili, at the time part of the opposition to Georgia’s then current government, with Zhirinovsky from Moscow,
who performs, on behalf of the entire Russian government, all of the Russian presidents, in the role of a political joker,
a debate took place, Zhirinovsky, in his usual loud tone, screaming, said: “you are all mere tiger-skin wearing wrestlers, all you have is just the skin…”
at that time Saakashvili gave a very effective and emotional answer,
for that he turned to a poem of a prominent Russian poet Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov, written in 1841, the year of his death, to his famous poem:
“Farewell, unwashed Russia, The land of slaves, the land of lords, And you, the uniforms of blue, And you, the loyal to them nation.”
Thank you. Good bye.