What do people think in Georgia about the Karabakh conflict?

Caucasus Barometer has announced the results of a survey conducted in Georgia.

Main point from data collected by the company:

  • Azerbaijan is viewed as the third most friendly country for Georgia after the United States and Ukraine,
  • 14% of respondents are positive about the presence of Nagorno-Karabakh inside Armenia,
  • 17% of respondents support the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh,
  • If Nagorno-Karabakh did not have autonomy within Azerbaijan, it would be unacceptable for 24% of respondents and acceptable for 36%.
  • If Nagorno-Karabakh had autonomy within Azerbaijan, it would be unacceptable for 24% of respondents and acceptable for 36%.
  • 72% of respondents believe that it would be unacceptable for Nagorno-Karabakh be a part of Russia.
  • Only 8% of respondents have a negative attitude to the restoration of transport links between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

According to the 2014 census, there are 233,024 ethnic Azerbaijanis living in Georgia. Azerbaijanis comprise 6.5% of Georgia's population and are the country's largest ethnic minority, inhabiting mostly rural areas like Kvemo Kartli, Kakheti, Shida Kartli and Mtskheta-Mtianeti.

Mikheil Saakashvili's government, which came in power after the 2003 Rose Revolution, took steps towards integrating the country's minorities by attempting to enhance the educational system. The new government's efforts to build a professional army changed the military conscription practices and instead allowed many young Azerbaijanis and Armenians from impoverished regions (at least before the Russo-Georgian War of 2008) to be offered real employment opportunities by the Georgian army instead of being dragooned into mandatory military service.

In general, the majority-Azerbaijani regions, for the most part, demonstrated satisfaction with the United National Movement (UNM), showing varying support for this party in the 2004, 2008 and 2012 elections.

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