Azerbaijan University hosted an event dedicated to “May 28 – the Independence Day” organized by the Department of Social Sciences. The speaker of the event was a deputy of the Milli Majlis and Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Anar Isgandarov.

Opening the event with an introductory speech, which began with performance of the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the head of the Department of Social Sciences, Professor Gabil Aliyev noted that the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, established on May 28, 1918, is a great event in the history of Azerbaijan in the XX century, which has an ancient and rich history and traditions of statehood. Azerbaijan, which regained its state independence in 1991 and declared itself as the political and spiritual successor of the ADR, has been celebrating May 28 with great solemnity for more than 30 years.

After the speech, the deputy of the Milli Majlis and Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Anar Isgandarov was invited to the podium. Anar isgandarov's report is devoted to the topic “The First Republicin the Muslim East”. It was noted in the report that the ADR, which preserves the ancient traditions of statehood of the Azerbaijani people, has honorably fulfilled its difficult and fateful task and transformed the expression of Azerbaijan, which is a geographical concept, into a political one. Despite time constraints, it was made 250 reforms for adoption of the first state symbols of Azerbaijan, creation of National Army, adoption of decision on state language, establishment of Parliament, separation of powers, issuance of national currency into circulation, sending special delegation to Paris Peace Conference, achieving de facto recognition of Azerbaijan by great powers, establishment of equality of men and women in elections, creation of Alphabet Reform Commission, sending 100 Azerbaijani students abroad and ending illegal actions of Armenian separatists in Karabakh, including establishment of the Karabakh governorate-general.

It was noted in the report that the April occupation of 1920 did not allow the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic to realize its goals, such as delivering Baku oil to the world market at full capacity, opening a higher military school, adopting the Constitution, implementation of agrarian reform, holding parliamentary elections, and ensuring the transition to the latin alphabet. Implementation of these ideas and reforms by the ADR was possible after regaining of Azerbaijan's independence, and high respect for the ideas of the republic was shown. National leader Heydar Aliyev signed orders on the holding of the 80th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, as well as the erection of a monument to the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. In 2018, by the order of President Ilham Aliyev, the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was celebrated with great solemnity.

Then, Professor of the Department of Social Sciences Gasim Hajiyev made a report on “ADR is the foundation of the Azerbaijani state”. The report touched upon the topic of political succession and brought to the attention the importance of studying the history of Karabakh.

The event ended with a demonstration of a video dedicated to the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.

Public Relations Department