In a globalizing world, borders remain only on paper - on maps. Education, work, travel, and social networks bring people of different nationalities together more frequently. Some of these encounters end in friendship, while others end in marriage. Observations show that the number of marriages between Azerbaijanis and foreigners has been increasing in recent years.
It is no longer a rare occurrence for a young Azerbaijani to marry a German, English, French, Korean, Turkish, Russian, or American. Such marriages have become common, especially for young people studying abroad or working in an international environment. For many, the main criterion is not nationality, but compatibility of character, values, and mutual respect.
It is true that the idea of “marrying someone from my own nation” is still strong in Azerbaijani society. Especially for parents, issues of language, religion, and customs are prioritized. However, statistics show that over time, parents also get used to marriages with foreigners. As a foreign son-in-law or foreign daughter-in-law tries to learn the Azerbaijani language and respect customs, the attitude of family members also softens.
The Modern.az website brings to your attention the official statistics of the Ministry of Justice: In 2025, 2081 marriages were concluded between citizens of Azerbaijan and foreign or stateless persons. In 2024, 2037 marriages between citizens of Azerbaijan and foreigners were registered. As can be seen, a significant increase is observed in the statistics.
Studies show that there are quite a few well-known Azerbaijanis who are related to foreigners. The facts confirm this:
Riyad Mammadov, the son of Azerbaijan's former Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, who lives in America, married an American woman named Alex Zapalla, who was his classmate.
They met while studying at New York University. The couple's wedding took place in 2019. The young couple held the wedding ceremony in New York City.
Former Minister of Labor and Social Protection Fuzuli Alakbarov is among the well-known figures who have relatives who are non-Azerbaijanis. This event occurred during his tenure as minister (from February 7, 2006, to October 22, 2013). Specifically, in June 2009, while F. Alakbarov was serving as Minister of Labor and Social Protection, he became related to the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Customs Committee. The Azerbaijani minister married his daughter to the son of the Russian official. There are reports that the wedding ceremony was held in one of the most expensive hotels in Athens, the capital of Greece. It is noted that the young couple met while studying together in Switzerland.
Musa Panahov, who currently serves as Deputy Head of the Department of Communication, Construction, and Utilities at the Cabinet of Ministers, is also among the well-known officials related to foreigners. Musa Panahov worked as Deputy Minister of Transport from 2004 to 2017.
Musa Panahov is related by marriage to Vladimir Voronin, the leader of Moldovan communists and former president of that country (President of Moldova from 2001-2009). Vladimir Voronin married his granddaughter Yekaterina (daughter of his son Oleg Voronin) to Fuad Panahov, the son of Azerbaijani official Musa Panahov.
This event also took place in June 2011, during Musa Panahov's tenure as deputy minister. The wedding was held in Baku, at the “Buta Palace” hall. Ms. Yekaterina, who married the son of the Azerbaijani official, is the only child of Oleg Voronin, one of Moldova's wealthy individuals. Information was circulated that the couple met on the Azure Coast, an elite resort area in France.
Nargiz Abbaszadeh, the daughter of Maleyka Abbaszadeh, Chair of the State Examination Center, is also married to a foreign citizen. After graduating from Khazar University in Baku, she studied law in the USA and worked abroad.
Ms. Nargiz, who married Danish citizen Ulrik Birk-Petersen, currently bears the surname Birk-Petersen. She currently lives in Copenhagen, the capital of that country, and is a Danish citizen.
Narmin Shiraliyeva, the daughter of the late Ogtay Shiraliyev, who served as Azerbaijan's Minister of Health from 2005-2021, was married to a Russian citizen.
Narmin Shiraliyeva, who studied and worked in Russia, married the famous television and film director, screenwriter Yevgeny Ginsburg in 1997. In 1999, a son named Alexander was born to the family.
The film director's marriage to the Azerbaijani woman lasted 14 years. In January 2012, Yevgeny Ginsburg passed away from a stroke.
Narmin Shiraliyeva has been a member of the ruling United Russia Party since March 2011. She served as the Minister of Culture of the Moscow region from 2018-2020.
N. Shiraliyeva currently holds the position of advisor to the head of “Rossotrudnichestvo,” one of the structures of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In addition, since February 2018, she has been teaching at the International Journalism Department of MGIMO and is a professor.
Former Minister of Culture Abulfas Garayev also has foreign relatives. A. Garayev served as Azerbaijan's Minister of Culture from 2006-2020.
His only child – daughter Suad Garayeva – currently lives in London and works as a project manager at the famous "Sotheby's" Auction House in that city.
In October 2015, Suad Garayeva married Shahriyar Maleki, a British citizen and businessman of Iranian origin. Their marriage took place in London, and their wedding in Baku. After this marriage, Ms. Suad adopted the surname Garayeva-Maleki. In 2019, the couple had a daughter.
Christopher Van Damme, son of the famous actor and Hollywood star Jean-Claude Van Damme, married an Azerbaijani girl. Suada Hajizadeh, who became a member of the famous family, was born and raised in Baku and is a pianist. After completing general education and music school, she studied at the Baku Music Academy.
She married Christopher Van Damme, son of Jean-Claude Van Damme, in 2021.
Suada Hajizadeh is the sister of Aykhan Hajizadeh, Head of the Press Service Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan.
Former President of “Azerbaijan Airlines” CJSC (AZAL) Jahangir Asgarov held a wedding for his daughter Mila Asgarova in 2017. The wedding ceremony took place in Baku. Mila Asgarova's husband is Robert Norton, of English origin.
Mila Asgarova is the founder and head of "Gazelli Art House” company.
Jahangir Asgarov's other child is also married to a foreign citizen. The former head of AZAL's daughter, Jamila Asgarova, is the founder and creative director of the “Gazelli Azerbaijan” cosmetics company. Her husband is a businessman named Ignazio Coraci, of Spanish origin.
Azerbaijani opera singer, People's Artist Fidan Hajiyeva married Englishman Philip Naylor. They got married in 2003. The couple, who live in Baku, have 1 daughter and 2 sons. Fidan Hajiyeva emphasizes her happiness with Philip Naylor in every statement.
Fidan Hajiyeva has continued her activity as a high-ranking vocalist at the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater from 1996 to the present day.
An Azerbaijani who married German-Cuban singer Karen Danger can also be included among the well-known figures. We are talking about the pianist-composer Abuzar Manafzadeh.
Abuzar Manafzadeh's father, pianist and conductor, Honored Artist Islam Manafov, is an associate professor at the Baku Music Academy.
His sister, Honored Artist Turan Manafzadeh, is a pianist, composer, and conductor.
Abuzar's wife, Ms. Karen, is a German citizen. The couple lives in Austria.
Well-known presenter Khoshgadam Hidayatgizi married the famous singer Doğuş, who is a Turkish citizen. They got married in 2014. In 2016, the couple's twin children, Arin and Arda, were born.
A.Gorkhmaz
