The Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic is celebrating its 92nd anniversary: on February 9th 1924 the Nakhichevan Autonomous Region was transformed into the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, the only autonomous entity on the territory of the USSR which was not created on an ethnic or religious basis. Nakhichevan is one of the most famous settlements of the ancient Middle East.
The region covers 5500 square kilometers with a population of 400,000 people (2009), bordering Armenia (length of frontier 264 km) to the east and north, Iran (204 km) to the south and west, and Turkey (15 km) to the northwest.
Nakhichevan is one of the most famous settlements of the ancient Middle East. It was mentioned in Ptolemy's Geography.
The Russian army invaded Nakhichevan during the second Russian-Iranian war in 1827.
During the period of the Soviet Union, on July 28, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was declared. In January 1990, the Supreme Soviet of the Nakhchivan ASSR issued a declaration stating the intention for Nakhchivan to secede from the USSR to protest against the Soviet Union's actions during Black January. In September 1991, Heydar Aliyev consolidated his power base as chairman of the Nakhchivan Supreme Soviet.
The main wealth of Nakhichevan is its people. The national leader of Azerbaijan, Heydar Alirza oghlu Aliyev, was born here, as well as the Muslim architect Ajami Nakhichevani, the prominent Azerbaijani poet Huseyn Javid, the Azerbaijani painter and graphic artist Bahruz Kangarli, Azerbaijani satirist and writer Jalil Mammadguluzadeh, and Azerbaijani writer, poet, playwright and journalist Mamed Ordubadi.
During the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, three residents of Nakhchivan were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union, thousands were awarded orders and medals.
