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Javid Huseynov, ASA Press Officer
May 28, 1998
80th ANNIVERSARY OF ESTABLISHMENT OF AZERBAIJAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
INDEPENDENCE DAY
of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918-1920)
The day of May 28 is celebrated in Azerbaijan every year since the restoration of independence in 1991. On May 28, 1918, Azerbaijan was proclaimed an independent state - first democratic republic in the Middle East. In a short period of its existence (May 1918 - April 1920) first democratically elected Azerbaijani government worked on building independent and democratic state in Azerbaijan.
The government was functioning in a hard situation of conflicts and wars. The final battles of World War I reached Caucasus too. First of all, Baku, the biggest oil-producing center of the time and largest city in Caucasus, was under control of Communist Gang leader Stepan Shaumiyan. His armed gang groups, cooperating with Armenian Dashnak groups, which came to Baku from Russia, organized a massive attack on peaceful Azeri population in Baku on March 30, 1918. As a result of this bloody Genocide (recognized by decree of President of Azerbaijan, March 26 1998) 10,000 Azeris were massacred in their home city. Shaumiyan and his gang also organized massacres in other towns of Azerbaijan, including Shamakhy and Guba.
In this situation, young Azerbaijani government, which had no support from anywhere, invited the Ottoman Army under commander Nuri Pasha. Combined Ottoman-Azeri forces, which were based in Ganja, second biggest city and capital at that time, began an attack on Baku. After 2 months of war, on September 15, 1918 Ottoman-Azeri forces marched into Baku City, which was proclaimed the capital of Azerbaijan again. Shaumiyan and his gang of 26 left Baku, trying to reach Russia. However, they were caught by British forces, taken to Turkmenistan, and executed for their crimes against humanity.
The end of World War I changed situation in Azerbaijan. Ottoman Army, which was defeated in the war, had to leave Azerbaijan. British forces marched into Baku, the richest oil city of that time. By December 1918, British establishment recognized Azeri Government, and allowed Azerbaijani Army to stay in the city. On January 15, 1919, official decision of Paris Peace Conference on recognition of Azerbaijan's independence was presented to Azerbaijani delegation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France.
Bloody Revolution in Russia was a considerable threat to Azerbaijan. Therefore, Azerbaijan on June 27, 1919 signed a military agreement with young Georgian Republic. Before that, in January 1919, customs and trading treaty was signed between Azerbaijan and Georgia. These were some of the first steps in integration of two countries against common threat.
Another neighbor of Azerbaijan, Armenia, however, was fighting against Azerbaijan. On May 29, 1918 Azerbaijani government ordered its forces to leave the city of Erivan (now Yerevan - the capital of Armenia). This city was given to newly proclaimed Republic of Armenia to create a capital since there were no other major cities in Armenia. As a result of this intent, Armenia attacked Azerbaijani provinces of Zangezur, Goycha, and Karabakh.
The ongoing war with Armenia was draining the resources of both sides. At the same time, Communist forces that defeated Czarist Russian Forces came close to borders of Transcaucasia. At the end of 1919, British Army left Azerbaijan, and republic had to survive alone against the raising power of Bolsheviks.
On April 26-27 1920, 11th Red Army of Soviet Russia attacked Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani Army of 60,000 people could not defend northern border from Russians because it was involved in a war with Armenia, where government began to cooperate with Bolsheviks. On April 28, 1920 Bolsheviks marched into Baku City. They sent an ultimatum to Azerbaijani Government to give up the power. In this situation, in order to prevent the bloodshed among civilians, Azerbaijani Parliament decided to hand over the power to Bolsheviks.
The leaders of Azerbaijan Republic were later killed or emigrated from the country:
* The leader of the Republic - Mammad Emin Rasulzade left the country and emigrated to Finland. He was the active member of Azerbaijan Independence Movement. He died in 1955 in Turkey. Through all his life he believed that Azerbaijan would be independent.
* Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Republic - Fatali-khan Khoyski was killed by Dashnak terrorist Aram Erkanian in Tbilisi in September 1920.
* Minister of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan Republic - Beybut khan Javanshirov was killed by another Dashnak terrorist Misak Tarlakian on July 19, 1920 in Istanbul.
The day of April 28 is the day when Bolsheviks put an end to the first Azerbaijani independence. Later in 1921 major parts of Azerbaijan were given to Armenia by Bolshevik government, including lands of Zangezur, Goyche, Daralayaz, and Sharur; autonomous district was established for Armenian settlers in Mountainous part of Karabakh province (currently known as disputed region of Nagorno Karabakh).
In 1922, Azerbaijan was incorporated into Soviet Union as a part of Transcaucasian Federative SSR, and later in 1936, it became a union republic of USSR.
Nevertheless, the idea of independence did not die in Azerbaijan. On October 18 1991, independent Republic of Azerbaijan was officially restored by declaration of Azerbaijani Milli Mejlis (National Assembly).
The Azerbaijan Society of America is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing knowledge about the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Azeri people, their culture and history.
Press Release ASM, CA/#020
Copyright 2003 Azerbaijan Society of America