AZE.US
Divorces among couples who have been married for many years are becoming more visible in Azerbaijan.
More than 1,600 divorces were registered last year among couples who had been married for 20 years or longer. Over the past three years, the largest share of divorces has consistently involved marriages that lasted between 10 and 19 years.
Residents interviewed on the issue linked the trend to long-standing family problems that often remain unresolved for years. Some said couples may tolerate emotional pressure, financial strain, lack of respect or constant conflict for a long time, until the relationship eventually reaches a breaking point.
Lawyers say divorce petitions often cite general explanations such as “incompatible characters,” “failure to reach an understanding” or “inability to live together.” But behind these formal phrases, they say, there may be deeper problems, including psychological pressure, domestic violence, financial hardship and conflicts that have built up over many years.
Specialists note that people who have spent decades in a marriage may not always want to make the real reasons for the breakup public. For that reason, many prefer neutral wording when taking the matter to court.
There are also cases in which the same spouses divorce and later remarry. Lawyers say such situations may be linked to different motives, including attempts to resolve property, family or other practical issues.
Sociologists point to indifference, loss of mutual respect, infidelity and growing individualism as some of the factors behind divorces after long marriages. They say the problem is not always limited to a direct act of betrayal. In some families, one spouse may spend years focused almost entirely on work, friends or personal interests, while gradually withdrawing from family life.
Another complicated issue in divorces after long marriages is the division of property. Assets acquired during the marriage are generally considered the joint property of both spouses. Disputes may involve not only apartments and houses, but also family businesses, shares in property and housing-related interests of children when such issues become part of the case.
Lawyers stress that courts do not force people to remain married. Even if one spouse objects to the divorce, the court may still dissolve the marriage if there are legal grounds to do so.
Experts say preventing family breakdowns requires stronger public education about family relations, mutual responsibility and healthy communication between spouses. They believe the subject should be discussed more actively not only on television, but also across social media platforms.
AZE.US