Azerbaijan is celebrating Independence Day today, marking a significant milestone in the nation's history. The Operative Information Center-OMM notes that May 28, 1918, commemorates the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR), the first secular democratic state in the Muslim East.
For the sixth consecutive year, this holiday is being celebrated across the country, including in territories liberated from occupation.
Following the collapse of the Russian Empire due to the February Revolution in 1917, national movements emerged among peoples previously oppressed by the Tsarist regime. On May 28, 1918, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918-1920) was founded, representing the first parliamentary republic and the first democratic, legal, and secular state in the Turkic and Islamic world.
The ADR was founded by Mammad Amin Rasulzade, with Fatali Khan Khoyski serving as the first head of the provisional government. After operating in Tbilisi for 10 days, the National Council relocated to Ganja. It was not until September 15, 1918, that the Caucasus Islamic Army cleared Baku of Dashnak-Russian forces, allowing the national government to move to the capital.
During its 23-month existence, the independent Azerbaijan Republic achieved significant successes. It was the first state to grant women the right to vote and ensured gender equality. The government took crucial steps toward building a national army, establishing a National Bank, introducing a national currency, and organizing free elections. Furthermore, the ADR secured de facto recognition of Azerbaijan's independence by the international community and initiated essential economic reforms.
The Ottoman Empire was the first state to officially recognize the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic on June 4, 1918. On November 9, 1918, based on a proposal by M.A. Rasulzade, the tricolor national flag of the ADR was adopted.
Despite its achievements, the ADR faced a complex socio-political environment and was forced to cede its place on the world political map after being occupied by Bolshevik Russia. Although the republic was overthrown, the idea of independence persisted, leading to the restoration of Azerbaijan's sovereignty in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. A monument to the Declaration of Independence has been erected in Baku in honor of the ADR.
From 1991 to 2021, the holiday was known as Republic Day. However, on October 15, 2021, the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) adopted a new law on "Independence Day," which was subsequently signed by President Ilham Aliyev. This legislation renamed the May 28 holiday to Independence Day. Today, Independence Day is a non-working public holiday in Azerbaijan, celebrated annually across the nation.
