Türkiye Congratulates Azerbaijan on Independence Day

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed their congratulations on their official X account, stating, “We wholeheartedly share the pride and jubilation of our Azerbaijani brothers, whose joy is our joy, whose grief is our grief.”

Azerbaijan celebrates the formation of the ADR, the first democratic republic in the Muslim East, which was announced on May 28, 1918, in Tiflis by the National Council chaired by Mamed Emin Rasulzade.

During this period, Baku was under the occupation of Bolsheviks and Armenian forces, so the provisional government led by Fatali Khan Khoyski operated in Ganja. The Ottoman Empire was the first to recognize Azerbaijan’s independence. Following an agreement on June 4, 1918, the Caucasian Islamic Army, led by Nuri Pasha (Killigil), arrived in Azerbaijan, liberating several regions, including Baku.

In the battles for Baku, 1,130 servicemen of the Caucasian Islamic Army lost their lives. The ADR implemented significant reforms in various sectors, including the economy, education, and religion. The Declaration of Independence of Azerbaijan guaranteed equal rights for all citizens, regardless of race, religion, or gender. Notably, Azerbaijan became the first country in the Muslim East to grant women the right to vote.

The ADR introduced a national currency and postage stamps, established a state bank, and founded Baku State University. On June 26, the national army was created, with substantial contributions from Ottoman officers. By a government decision on June 27, 1918, the Turkic language was declared the state language of the ADR.