On 28 May 2018 the East is celebrating the 100th Anniversary of its first parliamentary republic - Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.

Azerbaijan Democratic Republic emerged as a logical outcome of the stage of bright cultural rise of Azerbaijan at late 19th and early 20th century at the time when the political order of the world was rebuilt.

Giving special value to the place the national government holds in our history of national statehood, Nationwide Leader Heydar Aliyev stated: “The establishment of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1918 was an historical event in the life of Azerbaijani people thus being among the bright pages of the statehood chronicle of our nation”.     

Highly appreciating the activities of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic as well as the actions implemented by it, the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev recommended inferring from the lessons of history: “The frictions that took place in the life of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, struggle for power and striking the common national interests for personal benefits appears to be a bitter truth. We must learn from the past and prevent the revival of the harmful sides of our past”.

The Great Leader Heydar Aliyev due to the insistence and demand of people in the knotty June of 1993 returned to political power and realized the idea of independent Azerbaijan which belonged to the founders of Democratic Republic, laid political, legal and economical foundation of the solid state institutions and prevented the country from splitting and losing its independence. Having been founded on solid foundations, the Republic of Azerbaijan has already become one of the important and modern states of the world thus occupying its worthy place in world community.   

The actions implemented by Nationwide Leader Heydar Aliyev during his presidency in Azerbaijan regained the nation's historical and legal memory and boost the development of the traditions of independent statehood. This period is remarkable with the establishment of Azerbaijani state as well as the progress of democracy and the implementation of political, economic and social reforms in the country.  

On May 21 the movie entitled “Eternal mission” (shot with head production of Arzu Aliyeva, president of Baku Media Center) which tells about the fateful destiny of the delegation sent to Paris Peace Conference and headed by Alimardan bay Topchubashov, chairman of the Parliament of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was demonstrated to the collective of the Constitutional Court including its Chairman and judges at film theatre “Cinema Plus”. In order to make a movie, the creative staff conducted researches in archives of Baku, Tbilisi, Moscow, St. Petersburg and Paris for half a year, made video and photo shoots in these cities, recorded the meetings and conversations with scholars conducting researches on Azerbaijani emigration in France. 

Afterwards a meeting dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was held in Constitutional Court.

Farhad Abdullayev, Chairman of Constitutional Court opened the event and talked about the historical significance of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the first secular, democratic state in history of Muslim East which was established hundred years ago on 28 May as well as the services of the leaders of Republic.

Chairman noted that the establishment of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic entered the life of Azerbaijani people as an eternal remarkable event, the indicated date was annually solemnly celebrated as Republic Day and it was the first democratic, legal and secular state in entire East including the Turkish-Muslim world.    

Farhad Abdullayev stated that despite its short lifetime, which lasted merely 23 months, Azerbaijan Democratic Republic had proved Azerbaijani people’s capability of living independently and restoring its traditions of statehood. Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, which was guided by such principles as rule of people and equality of humans from the very first days of its existence, granted the same rights to country’s all citizens thus liquidating the racial, national and religious inequality.  Azerbaijan Democratic Republic has always pursued a peace-loving policy attempting to establish mutual cooperation relations with all countries based on the principles of respect for each other's rights. The factor that Azerbaijan became a subject of international law due to the activities of internationally recognized People's Republic prevented Azerbaijan from disappearance as a state from the world’s political map.

Chairman noted that Azerbaijan Democratic Republic collapsed not having fully succeeded in its goals, the idea of independence implanted by it into brains had not been forgotten.

It was reported in the meeting that when Azerbaijani people achieved the restoration of its independence, the modern Azerbaijan Republic adhered to its ancient statehood traditions thus adopting the tricolor flag, emblem and anthem of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic as its political and spiritual heir.

Underlining the unprecedented achievements of Nationwide Leader Heydar Aliyev and the successful continuation of his policy by the current President Ilham Aliyev, chairman Abdullayev noted that the year of 2018 was declared “Year of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic” in the Republic of Azerbaijan and the worthy celebration of this remarkable event at the state level appeared as an obvious manifestation of the attention rendered to the date of 28 May. Furthermore, on 16 May 2017 President Ilham Aliyev signed an order on the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic at the state level and holding a number of events on this occasion. Every year the head of state lays a wreath in front of “28 May” Memorial as a sign of respect to Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.