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.
The 65th General Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) convened in Baku on 18 June, bringing together parliamentary delegations and international representatives to discuss regional cooperation and sustainable development.
A new rail agreement between Pasifik Eurasia and a China Railway subsidiary is set to strengthen the Middle Corridor trade route, offering a faster and cheaper alternative to shipments via Russia.
Azerbaijan took part in the fourth meeting of heads of ministries and agencies responsible for ICT development among Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states, held in Karamay, China.
President Ilham Aliyev and Bulgarian National Assembly President Natalia Kiselova reaffirmed the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria during a meeting in Baku on June 18, highlighting strong political and energy ties.
The Agreement between the Governments of Azerbaijan and the Maldives, which exempts holders of diplomatic, service, and official passports from visa requirements, officially takes effect on June 18, 2025.
The U.S. Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged on Wednesday at 4.25%–4.50%, while maintaining its projection for two rate cuts by the end of 2025.
KazMunayGas (KMG) and China’s Sinopec have reached an agreement on the terms for jointly implementing the Berezovski subsoil use project in Kazakhstan’s West Kazakhstan region. The signed documents outline joint activities and formalize the strategic partnership between the two companies.
Hurricane Erick has intensified into a Category 4 storm with 230 km/h winds, threatening Mexico’s Pacific coast with “devastating wind damage,” life-threatening floods, and mudslides, according to the US National Hurricane Center.
New Zealand has suspended NZ$18.2 million (U.S. $10.8 million) in budget funding to the Cook Islands amid growing tensions over the island nation’s deepening ties with China and concerns over a lack of transparency.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 19th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Peace is no longer a dream. It is a discussion. On the streets of Baku and Yerevan, it is also a question, of trust, of foreign interests, and of who truly wants it.
Israeli strikes have reportedly targeted areas near the residences of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to the New York Times, citing local witnesses.
Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) has cancelled certain flights scheduled for 13th and 14th June amid recent escalation of situation in the Middle East and the closure of airspace in several countries for security reasons.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 17th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Israel’s sweeping surprise attack on Iran last week marked a major escalation in tensions, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring it had “struck at the head of Iran’s nuclear weaponization program.”
As tensions mount in the Middle East, Israel is reportedly pressuring the United States to use its most powerful non-nuclear weapon—the GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP)—in a strike against Iran’s heavily fortified Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant.
Israel’s main hospital in the south sustained a direct missile strike on Thursday amid escalating hostilities with Iran, causing extensive damage and prompting urgent warnings from health officials.
The critical importance of the strong cooperation between Türkiye and Azerbaijan at both regional and global levels has been highlighted and appreciated in Ankara.
Security measures along Türkiye' border with Iran have strengthened. Türkiye’s Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler said it's due to recent developments at between Iran and Israel.
The U.S. Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged on Wednesday at 4.25%–4.50%, while maintaining its projection for two rate cuts by the end of 2025.
KazMunayGas (KMG) and China’s Sinopec have reached an agreement on the terms for jointly implementing the Berezovski subsoil use project in Kazakhstan’s West Kazakhstan region. The signed documents outline joint activities and formalize the strategic partnership between the two companies.
Hurricane Erick has intensified into a Category 4 storm with 230 km/h winds, threatening Mexico’s Pacific coast with “devastating wind damage,” life-threatening floods, and mudslides, according to the US National Hurricane Center.
New Zealand has suspended NZ$18.2 million (U.S. $10.8 million) in budget funding to the Cook Islands amid growing tensions over the island nation’s deepening ties with China and concerns over a lack of transparency.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 19th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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