107 years have passed since the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic on May 28, 1918—the first secular democratic state in the Muslim East.
Following the February Revolution in Russia in 1917, the Tsarist Empire was overthrown. This triggered national liberation movements among the oppressed peoples under tsarist rule. On May 28, 1918, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918–1920) was founded as the first secular democratic state in the Muslim East.
Founded by Mammad Amin Rasulzade, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) became the first parliamentary republic and the first democratic, legal, and secular state model in the Turkic and Islamic world.
The first head of the provisional Azerbaijani government was Fatali Khan Khoyski. After functioning in Tiflis (modern-day Tbilisi) for 10 days, the National Council moved to Ganja. Only after the liberation of Baku from Armenian-Russian Dashnak forces by Ottoman troops in September 1918 did the national government relocate to Baku.
Despite its short existence, independent Azerbaijan achieved major milestones. It granted women the right to vote for the first time, ensured gender equality, and established a national army, currency, democratization process, national bank, free elections, and international relations, along with efforts for international recognition of Azerbaijan’s independence, territorial integrity, and economic reforms.
The first country to officially recognize the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was the Ottoman Empire, on June 4, 1918.
On November 9, 1918, based on Rasulzade’s proposal, the three-color flag of the ADR was adopted. Until then, the flag had been red.
The ADR only survived for 23 months, operating under extremely tense and complex political conditions. Unfortunately, before it reached its second anniversary, the Republic was invaded and overthrown by the Bolsheviks.
Soviet Russia forcibly incorporated Azerbaijan, ending its independence. However, the idea of freedom never faded. In 1991, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan regained its independence.
Today, a monument to the Declaration of Independence stands in Baku to honor the ADR.
From 1991 to 2021, May 28 was celebrated as Republic Day. On October 15, 2021, the Azerbaijani Parliament adopted a new law renaming the holiday as Independence Day, which was immediately signed by President Ilham Aliyev.
With this law, May 28 is now officially known as Independence Day.
In Azerbaijan, Independence Day is a national holiday, observed annually as a public holiday.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev welcomed a high-level business delegation from the United Arab Emirates, highlighting deepening economic ties and future cooperation.
President Ilham Aliyev met with a member of U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee to discuss bilateral ties and future cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United States.
The leaders of Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Pakistan convened in the symbolic and historic city of Lachin for their second trilateral summit, coinciding with Azerbaijan's Independence Day.
A trilateral summit is currently taking place in the city of Lachin between the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, the President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.
A Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Tbilisi was forced to make an emergency landing in Baku on May 27 due to poor weather conditions in Georgia, safely touching down at Heydar Aliyev International Airport.
Brazil’s economy is expected to have regained momentum in the first quarter of 2025, driven by a surge in household spending and private investment, according to a Reuters poll of economists conducted from May 21–26.
A 53-year-old man has been charged after a car was driven into a crowd during Liverpool FC’s trophy parade celebration.
Spain is preparing to significantly expand its public smoking restrictions by banning smoking on bar and restaurant terraces, as well as in other outdoor public areas, Health Minister Mónica García announced Thursday.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said that he exchanged views on tariff issues with U.S. President Donald Trump by phone on Thursday.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned that Nigel Farage's economic plans would damage the British economy, calling them unrealistic and comparing them to the failed policies of former PM Liz Truss.
AnewZ takes to the streets of Yerevan and Baku to ask a simple yet deeply complex question: How do you see peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan? In the first part of our special report, we hear the hopes, doubts, and scars still shaping people’s perspectives on both sides.
On May 28, the inauguration ceremony of Lachin International Airport was held.
A car drove into crowds of Liverpool fans celebrating the club’s Premier League title in the city centre on Monday evening, injuring dozens including 4 children. A 53-year-old man believed to be the driver was arrested at the scene.
EU ministers have greenlit a massive €150 billion defense investment fund—dubbed the Security Action for Europe (SAFE)—as the bloc ramps up its military readiness in response to Russia’s aggression and growing uncertainty over U.S. security guarantees.
Kyiv faced a large-scale Russian drone and missile assault overnight, with explosions and gunfire echoing throughout the city, forcing residents to shelter in subway stations.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's first visit to Central Asia has begun in Uzbekistan. In Samarkand, a high-level meeting between Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Italian officials resulted in the signing of several protocols and intergovernmental agreements.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev welcomed a high-level business delegation from the United Arab Emirates, highlighting deepening economic ties and future cooperation.
Kazakhstan launches Central Asia’s most powerful supercomputer, signaling a bold step in its digital transformation and AI ambitions.
President Ilham Aliyev met with a member of U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee to discuss bilateral ties and future cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United States.
Astana just opened a new chapter for financial integration among Turkic states — President Tokayev chaired the first-ever meeting of Central Bank governors from member countries.
Brazil’s economy is expected to have regained momentum in the first quarter of 2025, driven by a surge in household spending and private investment, according to a Reuters poll of economists conducted from May 21–26.
A 53-year-old man has been charged after a car was driven into a crowd during Liverpool FC’s trophy parade celebration.
Spain is preparing to significantly expand its public smoking restrictions by banning smoking on bar and restaurant terraces, as well as in other outdoor public areas, Health Minister Mónica García announced Thursday.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said that he exchanged views on tariff issues with U.S. President Donald Trump by phone on Thursday.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned that Nigel Farage's economic plans would damage the British economy, calling them unrealistic and comparing them to the failed policies of former PM Liz Truss.
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