What does marrying a foreigner promise Azerbaijani youth: a better life or...?

In recent years, Azerbaijan has seen an increase in the number of marriages between young people, especially young women, and foreign citizens.
According to Yeniavaz.com, citing official data, 2,081 marriages between Azerbaijani citizens and foreigners or stateless persons were registered in 2025.
For comparison, 12 years ago, in 2014, this figure was 1,816.
It should also be noted that while people consider such marriages a personal choice, many also believe that a different mentality and lifestyle could lead to serious problems in the future.
In an interview with Yeniavaz.com, sociologist Elchin Bayramli stated that the main problem with such marriages is the motives behind them:
"In principle, there is no problem here. The world is vast, and different peoples have intermarried and intermarried throughout history. However, this issue must be approached from two perspectives. Firstly, this process shouldn't be widespread. It may be a certain percentage, but if it becomes widespread, it could lead to national assimilation.
Secondly, it's a question of motives. If a marriage with a foreigner is based on love and sound moral values, it's normal and should be encouraged. There's nothing wrong with people marrying based on ethnicity, religion, or origin. But if a marriage is based on reasons such as material interests, the desire for a better life, earning money, or entertainment, it cannot be considered a healthy family model.
According to the sociologist, most such marriages are based on material interests and, in most cases, end in failure:
"Marriages with foreigners have become more common, but only a small fraction are based on true love. Most of them are aimed at settling in another country, obtaining citizenship, or finding work. There are even sham marriages entered into for this purpose, and they end badly. In some cases, these marriages lead to trafficking in women, violence, and criminal cases."
Elchin Bayramli noted that some Azerbaijani women married to foreigners are subjected to severe pressure and exploitation abroad:
"There are cases ranging from sexual exploitation to slavery. Unfortunately, in such situations, the Azerbaijani state has limited ability to provide prompt assistance to these citizens. Our laws do not apply abroad, and sometimes the whereabouts of these people are not even known. Therefore, young people should be extremely cautious in these matters."

Farida Asadzade