When you say Bazaar in Russia, the first thing that comes mind is “Azerbaijanis.” Unfortunately, Russians link the Azerbaijani nation with the Bazaar. Locals divide immigrants from the Post Soviet countries depending upon their nationalities. Thus, Uzbeks and Moldavians are constructers, Georgians are mafia heads, Armenians are jewelers and coblers; and Azerbaijanis – are sellers. But each of these are just stereotypes created by locals.

The free market and multitude of fruits from Azerbaijan have enabled Azerbaijanis to earn money especially after the collapse of the Soviet Union, when financial crisis struck. However, it does not mean that there are fewer successful Uzbeks or Azerbaijanis in Russia. Numerous people from the South Caucasus left their countries in order to find jobs in Moscow, or in other cities of Russia. 

However, in the case of an Azerbaijani man named Orkhan Zeynalov, who killed a Russian man on the streets of Moscow, retaliation against immigrants has increased, including persecution on ethnic grounds, as well as massive checks on passports and the availability of the right to work given by immigration officials and law enforcement agencies. Hundreds of migrants, feeling their futures endangered, decided to return to their homeland. According to various sources, there is one to two million Azerbaijanis who live in Russia.