Millions of our compatriots live in various countries around the world. Azerbaijanis abroad, active in different fields, also represent Azerbaijan through their socio-cultural initiatives, organizational efforts, and personal achievements. Our compatriots influence the social environment of the countries they live in, making significant contributions to the international recognition of Azerbaijan.
Modern.az's project, “Voice of the Diaspora,” aims to introduce these very compatriots.
The project reflects both their personal stories and aspects related to the general landscape of the Azerbaijani diaspora.
The main goal is to introduce our society to the activities of Azerbaijanis in various countries, highlight their successes, and increase public awareness about the diaspora. Thus, today's segment of “Voice of the Diaspora” is dedicated to the young Azerbaijani, Elvin Novruzov, who is actively involved in the Czech Republic.
Elvin Novruzov, currently residing in Prague, works in the field of social media marketing. He was among more than 100 young Azerbaijanis who participated in the VI Summer Camp for Diaspora Youth, held in Khankendi from August 3-9 this year, co-organized by the State Committee on Work with Diaspora and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. Our interlocutor spoke about his sports activities in our country before moving to the Czech Republic. He noted that he was still an applicant when he achieved success in sports:
“I achieved my first result in the 10th grade, and my last when I finished the 11th grade. Then I withdrew from competitions to focus more on my education. However, the role of sports in my life is still very significant. At university, they know me as a "world record holder." Even when applying for various international programs, my sports achievements increase my chances of admission. Furthermore, sports taught me discipline, perseverance to achieve goals, and proper time management. These qualities also help me in my studies.”
Elvin, who was admitted to the Azerbaijan Sports Academy, notes that he had always planned to study abroad and specifically chose the Czech Republic: “The main reason for me to study here was my brother. He came to Prague a year before me, and now we are studying at the same university, in the same specialization. This was both a comfort and a motivation for me.”
Unlike our other interviewees, Elvin emphasized that his adaptation period was not difficult. He attributes this to living alone in Baku and managing all his affairs himself.
He notes that when he came to Prague, he was already prepared for an independent lifestyle. On the contrary, the new environment and new people became an interesting experience for him. “The world mostly knows Azerbaijan through our Victory in the 44-day Patriotic War, international events like COP29, and Formula 1 races. However, I try to introduce our country to my fellow students here not only with these successes but also with our natural beauties, the richness of our national cuisine, and our hospitality. Often, their interest is directed towards our food, culture, and tourism opportunities,” he states.
The diaspora activist, also speaking about the differences between the Czech Republic and Azerbaijan, states that in the Czech Republic, great value is placed on art, sports, and hard work. Azerbaijan's superior aspect is, undoubtedly, its cuisine. “For me, this is a very important point. But their food is not as tasty and clean as ours, especially meat and dairy products. Also, the banking system works slowly, which confused me at first. The taste and quality of our food and products are very different from here. Furthermore, the cleanliness of our cities should also be noted. For me, all these differences are an experience. I approach them more as learning opportunities than difficulties.”
Elvin notes that various events of our diaspora are held in the Czech Republic. He also tries to find time to participate in these events: “I believe that young people studying abroad should join such activities and be active in promoting our country.”
Elvin, who also participated in the VI Summer Camp for Diaspora Youth held in Khankendi, emphasized that the camp was quite interesting and useful: “I met young people from over 50 countries and made new friends. Most importantly, I learned about the experiences of Azerbaijanis living in various countries. Communicating with each of them and seeing their activities was a great opportunity for me. Furthermore, I gained the chance to work closely with the diaspora.”
“When you go to the liberated territories, you experience a completely different feeling. Knowing how many martyrs we gave for those places makes one both proud and sad. For me, the most memorable moment was Jidir Duzu in Shusha. The scenery there gives a person an inexpressible energy,” he stated.
Elvin also spoke to us about his future plans. He emphasized that although sports have been a very valuable experience for him, he connects his future more with education and career:
“Establishing my own business in Europe is my main goal. I will continue sports as a part of my life, as this field gives me both health and motivation. In the coming years, my main objective is to successfully continue my education and develop in the field of social media. Specifically, I plan to expand my activities on “YouTube.” My first target is 100,000 subscribers, and then I plan to reach 1 million viewers. Alongside this, I want to continue my personal development by gaining job opportunities in Europe.”
It should be noted that Elvin Novruzov is 19 years old. He was born in Yevlakh city and received his initial education there. In 2023, he was admitted to the Azerbaijan State Academy of Physical Education and Sport, starting his bachelor's degree in "Mass Health-Promoting Sports." However, after one year of study, he decided to study abroad. For this, he retook exams and was admitted to the "Environmental Data Science" specialization at the Life Sciences Prague (CZU) university, located in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. He began his studies as a first-year student at that university in 2024 and is currently continuing his education.
