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Canberra Times (Australia)
May 28, 2014 Wednesday
Chronology of major events of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan (1918-1921)
Chronology of major events of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan
(1918-1921) History: Map of the Republic of Azerbaijan as presented to
the Paris peace conference in 1919.
THE first independent Republic of Azerbaijan existed for 23 months,
between May 28, 1918, and April 28, 1920.
The republic existed during the most turbulent, unstable and
complicated period of local history in the 20th century. Ethnic
conflicts and continuous wars with Armenia, aggravated by the collapse
of the Russian Empire, communist coups, civil war in Russia and the
consequences of World War I, brought the region of the Caucasus into
complete turmoil. This, in turn, facilitated the occupation of the
entire region by the Soviet Army.
Despite the unfavourable historical background, the Azerbaijan
Republic of 1918 to 1920 became the first secular state in the orient
with a European-like parliament and a cabinet of ministers. It was
also the first to adopt other western institutions, which were
implemented for the first time in the Moslem world.
The experience of this first republic (also known as the Azerbaijan
Democratic Republic) seems particularly precious nowadays, when almost
80 years later, Azerbaijan is trying its best to create an independent
state based on the fine democratic traditions laid in 1918 to 1920.
1917 October 25 - Communist (Bolshevik) coup in Petrograd (St.
Petersburg), Russia, which brings about the collapse of the Russian
Empire.
November 2 - Baku Soviet, the communist council of the so-called Baku
Commissars, led by Armenian communist Stepan Shaumyan becomes the
supreme authority in Baku.
1918 February 23 - Transcaucasian Seym (Parliament) is established in
Tbilisi Georgia as the Legislative power in the Transcaucasus, with
Azerbaijanis, Georgians and Armenians holding equal representation.
March - Influence of the Musavat Azerbaijani National Party increases,
causing tensions among the communist leadership of the Baku Soviet,
resulting in ethnic hostilities and the massacre of about 10,000
Azerbaijanis in Baku. The massacre is carried out between the Red Army
and the Dashnak Armenian armed units. Soviet power in Baku is
completely destroyed.
April 22 - The Federation of the Republic of Transcaucasia names
ministerial posts in Tbilisi, which are distributed between
Azerbaijani, Armenian and Georgian representatives. Tensions within
this federation develop due to German support of the Georgians,
British support of the Armenians and Turkish support of the
Azerbaijanis. The situation is further aggravated by World War I, and
by the civil war in Russia between the Red Army of the communists and
the White Army of the monarchists.
May 26 - The Republic of Georgia declares its independence, causing
the collapse of the Transcaucasian Federation.May 28 - Azerbaijan and
Armenia declare independence. The formation of the first cabinet of
ministers. Fatali-khan Khoyski becomes Azerbaijan's first Prime
Minister.
June 4 - Peace and friendship agreement is signed between Azerbaijan
Republic and Turkey. Establishment of the Turkish Military Mission in
Ganja.
June 12 - The second cabinet of ministers is formed by Khoyski in
Ganja, which at that time was the capital of the Republic of
Azerbaijan, as Baku was still under the control of the communist
government.
June 16 - Military offensive by the communist Baku Soviet against the
Azeri government in Ganja is repelled with the help of Turks.
June 27 to July 1 - Geokchay Battle.
Azeri and Turkish troops defeat the Red Army and Dashnak Armenian units.
July 31 - Fall of the Soviet power in Baku.
The arrest of the Baku commissars who, subsequently, were deported to
Turkmenistan and executed by British troops (reportedly). The
formation of the so- called Central Caspian Dictatorship in Baku,
supported by British troops from Enzeli (Iran), whose purpose is to
prevent Turkish and Azeri advancements.
July to September - Ethnic conflicts with Armenians in Nakhchivan,
Zangezur and Karabakh, resulting in considerable fatalities among
Azeri civilians. All Azeris are forced to flee Zangezur (the strip of
land that connects Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan and which has since become
part of Armenia). Counter-attack and further advancement of Azeri and
Turkish forces from Ganja to Baku.
September 9 - Azerbaijan adopts national flag, which includes three
stripes: blue (Turkic), red (sacrifice) and green (Islamic), with a
crescent and eight-pointed star. Beginning in 1920, this tricolour
flag is prohibited by the Soviet regime but is finally restored when
Azerbaijan regains its independence in 1991.
September 15 - Victorious Azerbaijani and Turkish army corps enter
Baku. The capital of Azerbaijan is moved from Ganja to Baku. Hostile
ethnic outbreaks against Armenians (in retaliation for the massacres
that Armenians had inflicted against Azerbaijanis in March of 1918).
The hostilities are finally brought under control by the Azeri
government and by Turkish military commanders, who publicly execute
some of their own soldiers charged with pillaging. Solid law and order
established after a year of anarchy.
September 30 - Armistice is signed between Great Britain and Turkey in
Mudros, stipulating the replacement of Turkish troops in the Caucasus
by British forces. This results in the removal of the Turkish Army
corps in Baku, led by Nuri- Pasha.
November 17 - The Azerbaijani parliament establishes the provisional
legislative body of the Azerbaijan Republic. The parliament consists
of 120 members (80 Azerbaijanis, 21 Armenians, 10 Russians, one Jew,
one German, one Pole and one Georgian. Five seats are assigned to
representatives of various professional groups).
November to December - War breaks out between Armenia and Georgia in
the Ahalkhalaki and Ahaltshykh regions of Georgia, where the
population is predominately Armenian. Clashes result in more than
30,000 casualties.
December 7 - The opening session of the parliament of the Azerbaijan
Republic, the first of its kind in the Islamic world.
December 28 - Declaration by British General Thompson in support of
the Azeri parliament as the only legal authority within the territory
of the Azerbaijan Republic.
1919 January 8 - Peace conference in Paris.
Azeri governmental delegation, led by Alimardan-bey Topchibashev, the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, heads to Paris.
March 14 - Formation of the fourth cabinet of ministers by Nasib-bey
Usubbeyov (Yussifbeyli), the new Prime Minister.April 25 - The
conference of the Transcaucasian States in Tbilisi, Georgia meets to
discuss political, economic and financial issues, as well as to settle
territorial disputes.
May 28 - The first anniversary of the Azerbaijan Republic. Meeting of
the Azeri delegation with US President Woodrow Wilson at the peace
conference in Paris, where there is a presentation of a memorandum
concerning the establishment of the Azerbaijan Republic.
July 21 - Men and women both guaranteed the right to vote.
Mid-summer - General Anton Denikin, commander of the volunteer army to
Daghestan, who had been fighting against the communists in Russia,
advances into the Caucasus. Increased tensions between the Azeri and
Georgian governments as well as with General Denikin over the
proximity of the volunteer army on the northern borders of Azerbaijan
and Georgia.
June 27 - Republics of Azerbaijan and Georgia sign a defensive
agreement intended to prevent further advancement of Denikin's army.
July to August - Ethnic tensions in the mountains of Karabakh result in riots.
Agreement is made between the Armenian community and the government of
Azerbaijan regarding the sovereignty of the Azerbaijan Republic in the
region.
August 11 - Azerbaijan adopts Law of Citizenship.
August 19 - Complete withdrawal of British troops from Baku and Azerbaijan.
September - State university is established, the first of its kind in
the Islamic world. Professor V A Razumovski, from Tbilisi, becomes the
first rector of the university. The first 100 Azeri students are
sponsored by the Azerbaijan government to study abroad in Europe. Many
of them never returned to Azerbaijan due to Soviet occupation a year
later.
October 30 - Charter on mass media in the Azerbaijan Republic is
ratified. Censorship is officially repealed.
November to December - Further clashes with Armenians in Zangezur, the
region between mainland Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan. Later, this land is
given to Armenia, thus separating these two parts of Azerbaijan.
November 23 - Cease-fire agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia is
signed in Tbilisi.
December 14 - Azerbaijani-Armenian conference in Baku. Directive is to
curb hostilities.
December 24 - Formation of the fifth cabinet of ministers of the
Azerbaijan Republic by Nasib-bey Usubbeyov (Yussifbeyli).1920January
12 - The Council of Allied Powers issues the De Facto Republic of
Azerbaijan.
January to March - Situation at the northern borders of the Azerbaijan
Republic is further aggravated by the advance of the Red Army on
General Denikin's volunteer army. Note by G V Checherin, Foreign
Commissar of Soviet Russia, is sent to the government of the
Azerbaijan Republic with a proposal to end the military alliance
against General Denikin. Khoyski, Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Azerbaijan, rejects the proposal.February 11 to 12 - Foundation of the
communist party of Azerbaijan's Fifth Column with A I Mikoian (an
Armenian) as key figure. Preparation for communist coup in Baku.
March 22 - Dashnak (Armenian) riots in Karabakh are organised with the
intent to distract the Azerbaijan government from the situation in the
Northern Caucasus. Battle in Askaran.
March to April - Complete defeat of Denikin's volunteer army with
concentration of the 11th Red Army troops at the northern borders of
Azerbaijan.
April 1 - Resignation of the fifth cabinet of ministers of the
Azerbaijan Republic.
Political crisis.
April 27 to 28 - 11th Red Army troops enter Baku. The communist party
demands resignation of the Parliament of the Azerbaijan Republic.
Soviet power is declared in Baku.
May 20 - Soviet army occupies remainder of Azerbaijan. Uprising in
Ganja is suppressed. Horrific atrocities occur when the communists
kill 40,000 Azerbaijanis.
Summer to Autumn - Further dissemination of Soviet power in Azerbaijan.
December - Fall of the Republic of Armenia. Soviet regime is
established in Yerevan.
1921 February - Soviet occupation in Georgia.
December 22 - Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia become part of the Union
of Soviet Socialist Republics.
May 28, 2014 Wednesday
Chronology of major events of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan (1918-1921)
Chronology of major events of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan
(1918-1921) History: Map of the Republic of Azerbaijan as presented to
the Paris peace conference in 1919.
THE first independent Republic of Azerbaijan existed for 23 months,
between May 28, 1918, and April 28, 1920.
The republic existed during the most turbulent, unstable and
complicated period of local history in the 20th century. Ethnic
conflicts and continuous wars with Armenia, aggravated by the collapse
of the Russian Empire, communist coups, civil war in Russia and the
consequences of World War I, brought the region of the Caucasus into
complete turmoil. This, in turn, facilitated the occupation of the
entire region by the Soviet Army.
Despite the unfavourable historical background, the Azerbaijan
Republic of 1918 to 1920 became the first secular state in the orient
with a European-like parliament and a cabinet of ministers. It was
also the first to adopt other western institutions, which were
implemented for the first time in the Moslem world.
The experience of this first republic (also known as the Azerbaijan
Democratic Republic) seems particularly precious nowadays, when almost
80 years later, Azerbaijan is trying its best to create an independent
state based on the fine democratic traditions laid in 1918 to 1920.
1917 October 25 - Communist (Bolshevik) coup in Petrograd (St.
Petersburg), Russia, which brings about the collapse of the Russian
Empire.
November 2 - Baku Soviet, the communist council of the so-called Baku
Commissars, led by Armenian communist Stepan Shaumyan becomes the
supreme authority in Baku.
1918 February 23 - Transcaucasian Seym (Parliament) is established in
Tbilisi Georgia as the Legislative power in the Transcaucasus, with
Azerbaijanis, Georgians and Armenians holding equal representation.
March - Influence of the Musavat Azerbaijani National Party increases,
causing tensions among the communist leadership of the Baku Soviet,
resulting in ethnic hostilities and the massacre of about 10,000
Azerbaijanis in Baku. The massacre is carried out between the Red Army
and the Dashnak Armenian armed units. Soviet power in Baku is
completely destroyed.
April 22 - The Federation of the Republic of Transcaucasia names
ministerial posts in Tbilisi, which are distributed between
Azerbaijani, Armenian and Georgian representatives. Tensions within
this federation develop due to German support of the Georgians,
British support of the Armenians and Turkish support of the
Azerbaijanis. The situation is further aggravated by World War I, and
by the civil war in Russia between the Red Army of the communists and
the White Army of the monarchists.
May 26 - The Republic of Georgia declares its independence, causing
the collapse of the Transcaucasian Federation.May 28 - Azerbaijan and
Armenia declare independence. The formation of the first cabinet of
ministers. Fatali-khan Khoyski becomes Azerbaijan's first Prime
Minister.
June 4 - Peace and friendship agreement is signed between Azerbaijan
Republic and Turkey. Establishment of the Turkish Military Mission in
Ganja.
June 12 - The second cabinet of ministers is formed by Khoyski in
Ganja, which at that time was the capital of the Republic of
Azerbaijan, as Baku was still under the control of the communist
government.
June 16 - Military offensive by the communist Baku Soviet against the
Azeri government in Ganja is repelled with the help of Turks.
June 27 to July 1 - Geokchay Battle.
Azeri and Turkish troops defeat the Red Army and Dashnak Armenian units.
July 31 - Fall of the Soviet power in Baku.
The arrest of the Baku commissars who, subsequently, were deported to
Turkmenistan and executed by British troops (reportedly). The
formation of the so- called Central Caspian Dictatorship in Baku,
supported by British troops from Enzeli (Iran), whose purpose is to
prevent Turkish and Azeri advancements.
July to September - Ethnic conflicts with Armenians in Nakhchivan,
Zangezur and Karabakh, resulting in considerable fatalities among
Azeri civilians. All Azeris are forced to flee Zangezur (the strip of
land that connects Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan and which has since become
part of Armenia). Counter-attack and further advancement of Azeri and
Turkish forces from Ganja to Baku.
September 9 - Azerbaijan adopts national flag, which includes three
stripes: blue (Turkic), red (sacrifice) and green (Islamic), with a
crescent and eight-pointed star. Beginning in 1920, this tricolour
flag is prohibited by the Soviet regime but is finally restored when
Azerbaijan regains its independence in 1991.
September 15 - Victorious Azerbaijani and Turkish army corps enter
Baku. The capital of Azerbaijan is moved from Ganja to Baku. Hostile
ethnic outbreaks against Armenians (in retaliation for the massacres
that Armenians had inflicted against Azerbaijanis in March of 1918).
The hostilities are finally brought under control by the Azeri
government and by Turkish military commanders, who publicly execute
some of their own soldiers charged with pillaging. Solid law and order
established after a year of anarchy.
September 30 - Armistice is signed between Great Britain and Turkey in
Mudros, stipulating the replacement of Turkish troops in the Caucasus
by British forces. This results in the removal of the Turkish Army
corps in Baku, led by Nuri- Pasha.
November 17 - The Azerbaijani parliament establishes the provisional
legislative body of the Azerbaijan Republic. The parliament consists
of 120 members (80 Azerbaijanis, 21 Armenians, 10 Russians, one Jew,
one German, one Pole and one Georgian. Five seats are assigned to
representatives of various professional groups).
November to December - War breaks out between Armenia and Georgia in
the Ahalkhalaki and Ahaltshykh regions of Georgia, where the
population is predominately Armenian. Clashes result in more than
30,000 casualties.
December 7 - The opening session of the parliament of the Azerbaijan
Republic, the first of its kind in the Islamic world.
December 28 - Declaration by British General Thompson in support of
the Azeri parliament as the only legal authority within the territory
of the Azerbaijan Republic.
1919 January 8 - Peace conference in Paris.
Azeri governmental delegation, led by Alimardan-bey Topchibashev, the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, heads to Paris.
March 14 - Formation of the fourth cabinet of ministers by Nasib-bey
Usubbeyov (Yussifbeyli), the new Prime Minister.April 25 - The
conference of the Transcaucasian States in Tbilisi, Georgia meets to
discuss political, economic and financial issues, as well as to settle
territorial disputes.
May 28 - The first anniversary of the Azerbaijan Republic. Meeting of
the Azeri delegation with US President Woodrow Wilson at the peace
conference in Paris, where there is a presentation of a memorandum
concerning the establishment of the Azerbaijan Republic.
July 21 - Men and women both guaranteed the right to vote.
Mid-summer - General Anton Denikin, commander of the volunteer army to
Daghestan, who had been fighting against the communists in Russia,
advances into the Caucasus. Increased tensions between the Azeri and
Georgian governments as well as with General Denikin over the
proximity of the volunteer army on the northern borders of Azerbaijan
and Georgia.
June 27 - Republics of Azerbaijan and Georgia sign a defensive
agreement intended to prevent further advancement of Denikin's army.
July to August - Ethnic tensions in the mountains of Karabakh result in riots.
Agreement is made between the Armenian community and the government of
Azerbaijan regarding the sovereignty of the Azerbaijan Republic in the
region.
August 11 - Azerbaijan adopts Law of Citizenship.
August 19 - Complete withdrawal of British troops from Baku and Azerbaijan.
September - State university is established, the first of its kind in
the Islamic world. Professor V A Razumovski, from Tbilisi, becomes the
first rector of the university. The first 100 Azeri students are
sponsored by the Azerbaijan government to study abroad in Europe. Many
of them never returned to Azerbaijan due to Soviet occupation a year
later.
October 30 - Charter on mass media in the Azerbaijan Republic is
ratified. Censorship is officially repealed.
November to December - Further clashes with Armenians in Zangezur, the
region between mainland Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan. Later, this land is
given to Armenia, thus separating these two parts of Azerbaijan.
November 23 - Cease-fire agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia is
signed in Tbilisi.
December 14 - Azerbaijani-Armenian conference in Baku. Directive is to
curb hostilities.
December 24 - Formation of the fifth cabinet of ministers of the
Azerbaijan Republic by Nasib-bey Usubbeyov (Yussifbeyli).1920January
12 - The Council of Allied Powers issues the De Facto Republic of
Azerbaijan.
January to March - Situation at the northern borders of the Azerbaijan
Republic is further aggravated by the advance of the Red Army on
General Denikin's volunteer army. Note by G V Checherin, Foreign
Commissar of Soviet Russia, is sent to the government of the
Azerbaijan Republic with a proposal to end the military alliance
against General Denikin. Khoyski, Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Azerbaijan, rejects the proposal.February 11 to 12 - Foundation of the
communist party of Azerbaijan's Fifth Column with A I Mikoian (an
Armenian) as key figure. Preparation for communist coup in Baku.
March 22 - Dashnak (Armenian) riots in Karabakh are organised with the
intent to distract the Azerbaijan government from the situation in the
Northern Caucasus. Battle in Askaran.
March to April - Complete defeat of Denikin's volunteer army with
concentration of the 11th Red Army troops at the northern borders of
Azerbaijan.
April 1 - Resignation of the fifth cabinet of ministers of the
Azerbaijan Republic.
Political crisis.
April 27 to 28 - 11th Red Army troops enter Baku. The communist party
demands resignation of the Parliament of the Azerbaijan Republic.
Soviet power is declared in Baku.
May 20 - Soviet army occupies remainder of Azerbaijan. Uprising in
Ganja is suppressed. Horrific atrocities occur when the communists
kill 40,000 Azerbaijanis.
Summer to Autumn - Further dissemination of Soviet power in Azerbaijan.
December - Fall of the Republic of Armenia. Soviet regime is
established in Yerevan.
1921 February - Soviet occupation in Georgia.
December 22 - Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia become part of the Union
of Soviet Socialist Republics.