Today Azerbaijanis celebrate the Republic day that honors the date on which the Azerbaijani Democratic Republic (ADR) was founded in 1918 as the first democratic republic in the entire Muslim East.
On May 18, Azerbaijan’s National Council declared the independent Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, which marked the country’s independence. The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic existed only 23 months. After the Bolshevik 11th Red Army’s occupation of Azerbaijan on April 28, 1920, the republic collapsed.
Although short-lived, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic left impressive mark in the Azerbaijani history, making series of reforms in many fields including freedom of education, religion and conscience. ADR was a parliamentary state, had a flag, an anthem and an army.
ADR is also remembered for being the first Muslim republic to give women the right to vote in 1918 before the United States, France and a number of other progressive countries.
Since 1990, May 28 has been celebrated as a national holiday in Azerbaijan.
This year, after the victory achieved in the Second Karabakh war, the Azerbaijani flag is waving in the liberated Karabakh, the territorial integrity of the country has been restored, and historical justice has triumphed.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is receiving congratulatory messages from world leaders on the occasion of the Republic Day.
"We highly appreciate relations with Azerbaijan based on the traditions of friendship and mutual respect. I am confident that through joint efforts we will further strengthen our strategic partnership and fruitful cooperation in all the areas in the interest of the welfare of our peoples and regional security and stability," Russian President Vladimir Putin's letter says.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Azerbaijan crowned the 103rd anniversary of its republic with the rightful victory in Patriotic War last year.
"Brotherly Azerbaijan is crowning the Republic Day this year with the pride of its rightful victory in the Patriotic War, and Turkey enthusiastically shares this happiness of Azerbaijan," he said, congratulating the Azerbaijani nation on the occasion of Republic Day.
Erdogan voiced pleasure over mutual commitment to further increase strategic relations, which are "already at an excellent level". "I firmly believe that our brotherhood and cooperation are the greatest guarantees of peace, stability and prosperity in our region," he said.
Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Elizabeth II expressed hope that "after what has been a difficult year, we may look forward to overcoming global health challenges and to better times in the future."
"We are grateful for Azerbaijan's 20 years of support for NATO's mission in Afghanistan and efforts to combat terrorism. As a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, we remain committed to helping the sides negotiate a long-term political settlement of," U.S. President Joe Biden's message reads.
