Today is Independence Day in Azerbaijan.
On May 28, 1918, 107 years have passed since the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the first secular democratic state in the Muslim East.
On May 28, 1918, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918-1920) – the first secular democratic state in the Muslim East – was established. This republic left its mark in the historical memory of Azerbaijanis as the first experience of Azerbaijani statehood.
Founded by Mahammad Amin Rasulzadeh, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was the first parliamentary republic and the first democratic, legal and secular state in the Turkic and Islamic world.
The first head of the provisional government of Azerbaijan was Fatali Khan Khoyski. After working in Tbilisi for 10 days, the National Council was transferred to Ganja. Only in September 1918, after Baku was cleared of Dashnak-Russian forces under the leadership of the Turkish army, the national government moved from Ganja to Baku.
The independent Azerbaijan Republic achieved great achievements and victories in its short life. The republic, which for the first time recognized the right to vote for women and ensured equality between men and women, as well as the national army, national currency, democratization, national bank, free elections, international relations and the official recognition of Azerbaijan’s independence by the international community, ensuring the integrity of Azerbaijan, economic reform, etc., ensured the independent Azerbaijan Republic.
The first state to officially recognize the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was the Ottoman state (June 4, 1918).
On November 9, 1918, based on the proposal of M.A. Rasulzade, the three-color flag of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was adopted. Until then, the flag of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was red.
The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was able to function for only 23 months in tense and complex socio-political conditions. Unfortunately, the independent Azerbaijan Republic was attacked by the Bolsheviks before it was even two years old and was temporarily overthrown. The Soviet Union forcibly incorporated Azerbaijan into its structure. Despite being overthrown by the Bolsheviks, the idea of ​​independence was not defeated and with the collapse of the Soviet Empire in 1991, Azerbaijan declared its independence again.