Today we celebrate the 102nd anniversary of a fateful event in our history - the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the first parliamentary republic in the East and the Turkic-Islamic world.

We congratulate our people on this great holiday and wish them new successes and new victories in making our independence unshakable, irreversible and eternal.

On May 28, 1918, the National Council of Azerbaijan decided to declare the state independence of Azerbaijan in Tbilissi (Georgia). As Baku was under the control of Bolshevik-Dashnak forces led by Stepan Shaumyan, the Azerbaijani government temporarily operated in Ganja. After heavy fighting on September 15, 1918, units of the National Army and the Caucasian Islamic Army led by Nuru Pasha liberated Baku from Bolshevik-Dashnak and British troops. After that, the Azerbaijani government moved to Baku.

On December 7, 1918, the grand opening of the Azerbaijani Parliament took place in the building of Haji Zeynalabdin Tagiyev's girls' school (now the building of the Institute of Manuscripts named after Fuzuli of ANAS). A total of 155 sessions of the parliament were held during the existence of the Popular Front. More than 270 bills were submitted to the parliament and about 230 of them were adopted.

The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, engraved in our memory as one of the most glorious pages of our history, has achieved great success in its short life. For the first time, the republic, which recognizes women's suffrage and ensures gender equality, has done great work in building a national army, issuing a national currency, establishing a national bank, democratization, free elections, international relations and official recognition of Azerbaijan's independence by the international community, ensuring Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, economic reforms and in other areas. Having honorably fulfilled its historical mission in a tense and complicated socio-political environment, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic has left an indelible mark on the history of national statehood with its rich experience of state building and has laid a solid foundation for future independence.

The aggression of Bolshevik Russia on April 27, 1920 resulted in the collapse of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and the Soviet Socialist Republic of Azerbaijan was established on its territory.

The Republic of Azerbaijan, which regained its independence at the end of the last century, was built on historical heritage and as the political successor of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic adopted its flag, coat of arms and anthem. May 28, the day of the Declaration of Independence, is celebrated as the Republic Day in our country.

According to the presidential decree, 2018 has been declared the "Year of the Republic" in Azerbaijan, the activities of the founders of the Popular Front have always been praised and their memories have been immortalized.

Public Relations Department
28.05.2020