Administrative Department of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan P R E S I D E N T I A L L I B R A R Y CHRONOLOGY Chronology of events that led Azerbaijan to independence and remarkable days after gaining the independence An extraordinary session of the Council of People's Deputies February 20,1988 of the Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Republic (NKAR) was held in Hankendi. The session appealed to the Presidium of Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan and Armenia with the request that they treat with understanding the decision to sever the NKAR from Azerbaijan SSR and transfer it to Armenian SSR. It was also applied to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR for the positive solution of this issue. February 22,1988 Two young Azerbaijanis were killed by Armenians in Askeran February 28,1988 Bloody outrages were perpetrated by Armenian instigators in Sumgait March 24, 1988 By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan SSR an official prohibition was imposed on activity of separatist organization "Krung" to be accused of breeding strife among the peoples. Abdurrahman Vezirov was elected the first secretary of the Central May 21,1988 Committee of the Azerbaijan Communist Party. The session of the Council of People's Deputies of the NKAR July 12, 1988 adopted an illegal decree on annexation of autonomous region to the Armenian SSR. July 18, 1988 The issue “About decisions of the Supreme Councils of the Armenian SSR and the Azerbaijan SSR regarding Nagorno- Karabakh” was discussed at the enlarged meeting of the Presidium of the USSR Supreme Council. It was considered impossible to change the existing borders and the national-territorial division. November A national movement began in Azerbaijan. 17,1988 Specific situation and curfew were imposed on Baku, Nakhichevan November and Gandja cities. 24,1988 An aircraft IL-76 carrying 78 persons flying from Azerbaijan to December 11, Armenia to render aid in the earthquake zone suffered an accident 1988 under enigmatic conditions near Leninakan (at present Gyumri) city. 1 Administrative Department of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan P R E S I D E N T I A L L I B R A R Y Alleged Special Administrative Committee (SAC) headed by Arkady January 12- Volsky and created by Presidium of the USSR Supreme Council november28, started its activity 1989 June 16, 1989 Constituent conference of Azerbaijan National Front was held in semi-hidden conditions in Baku The Constitutional Law “On sovereignty of the Azerbaijan SSR” was September adopted at the extraordinary session of the Supreme Council of 23,1989 Azerbaijan Republic. Armenian SSR Supreme Council adopted the unlawful decree “On December 1, annexation of Nagorno-Karabakh to the Armenian SSR". 1989 December 4, Newspaper “Azadliq” commenced publication 1989 December 30, Restitution of historical name of Gandja city 1989 In Nakhchivan ASSR the border installations were destroyed along December 31, the river Araz in Soviet-Iranian border 1989 By the decree of Presidium of the USSR Supreme Council the state January 15,1990 of emergency was announced in Nagorno-Karabakh and some other areas January 18,1990 The border installations were destroyed in Bilasuvar and Jalilabad regions January 19, 1990 The power – unit of Azerbaijan television was blasted at 7:27 p.m January 20, 1990 Bloody January carnage in Baku Heydar Aliyev delivered a speech at the crowded meeting held in January 21, 1990 Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan in Moscow The funeral ceremony of the martyrs of January 20 was held at the January 22, 1990 former “Highland Park” – “Alley of Martyrs” January 24, 1990 Ayaz Mutallibov was elected the first secretary of the Central Committee of Comminist Party of Azerbaijan March 24, 1990 Armenian military units attacked the village Baganis-Ayrim of Gazakh region and inflicted appalling tragedy 2 Administrative Department of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan P R E S I D E N T I A L L I B R A R Y May 19, 1990 The session of the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan SSR founded the position of “the President of the Republic” May 21, 1990 By the Decree of the President of the Republic the day of foundation of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic on May 28, 1918 was announced as the day of Restoration of Azerbaijan statehood June11, 1990 The Supreme Council of the Azerbaijan SSR declared a state of emergency on border territories with Armenia July 20, 1990 Heydar Aliyev’s come-back from Moscow to Baku August 10, 1990 Armenian terrorists committed a terrorist act in the passenger bus moving on the Tbilisi-Aghdam itinerary in Khanlar region September 30, Elections was held to the Azerbaijan SSR Soviet of People's 1990 Deputies and local people’s deputies November 17, At the parliament session of Nakhchivan ASSR a decree was 1990 adopted on abolishment of the words “Soviet Socialist” at the name of Autonomous Republic and the tri-color flag of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic with crescent and an eight-point star was declared the national flag of the Autonomous Republic November 21, The Supreme Majlis of the Nakhchivan AR gave a political appraisal 1990 of January 20 tragedy February 5, 1991 The session of the Supreme Council of the Azerbaijan SSR approved the country’s name “The Republic of Azerbaijan” and the tri-color flag June 21,1991 Hezy Aslanov was twice awarded an honorary title “Hero of the Soviet Union” July 31, 1991 Armenian terrorists blasted Moscow-Baku passenger train near Mahachkala August 8,1991 Expulsion of the last azerbaijanis living in Armenia from the village Nuvedi The Declaration “On restoration of state independence of the August 30,1991 Republic of Azerbaijan” was adopted at the extraordinary session of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan 3 Administrative Department of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan P R E S I D E N T I A L L I B R A R Y September 3, Heydar Aliyev was elected the Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of 1991 the Nakhchivan AR September, 1991 An illegal establishment so-called “The Republic of Nagorno Karabakh ” was formed by armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh September 5, The formation of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of 1991 Azerbaijan September 29, Appointment of National Defence Council consisting of 8 persons on 1991 a par with officials and opposition representatives September 8, New Presidential Elections was held in Azerbaijan 1991 The Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan October 9, 1991 adopted an Act “On The National Forces of self-defense of Azerbaijan” October 18, 1991 Foundation of the position of chief executive authority in regions, cities and urban areas January 14, 1991 Baku Islamic Institute was established on the basis of Baku Islamic Madrasah October 18, 1991 The constitutional act “On the State Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan” was adopted unanimously at the session of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan October 25, 1991 Unveiling of the memorial of Nizami Ganjavi in Moscow November 9, Turkey was the first nation in the world to recognize the state 1991 independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan November 20, Azerbaijani helicopter carrying a team consisting of government 1991 officials of the Republic of Azerbaijan, observers of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR, Russia and Kazakhstan was shot down by Armenian military forces near the Karakend village of Martuni (at present Khojavend) district November 26, The Resolution of the Supreme Council of the Republic of 1991 Azerbaijan abolished Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast 4 Administrative Department of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan P R E S I D E N T I A L L I B R A R Y November 26, National Assembly was appointed on a par with 25 representatives 1991 of “Demblock” and 25 persons from other deputies in the Supreme Council December 8, Collapse of the SSSR existed for 68 years, 11 months, 7 days, 21 1991 hours, 19 minutes December 8, Formation of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) 1991 December 9, Azerbaijan became a member of Organization of the Islamic 1991 Conference December 11, Romania recognized the state independence of the Republic of 1991 Azerbaijan December 13, Pakistan recognized the state independence of the Republic of 1991 Azerbaijan December 16, On Heydar Aliyev’s initiative the Supreme Assembly of Nakhchivan 1991 Autonomous Republic adopted an appeal to the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan on marking the 31st of December as a holiday of Solidarity and Unity of Azerbaijanis of the world December 25, Issuance of the Act on restoration of Azerbaijan alphabet in Latin 1991 script December 25, Azərbaycan Respublikasının dövlət müstəqilliyinin İran İslam 1991 Respublikası tərəfindən tanınması Islamic Republic of Iran recognized the state independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan December 29, Nation-wide referendum on the State Independence of the Republic 1991 of Azerbaijan January 3, 1992 Disbandment of the National Defence Council and appointment of the State Defense Committee January 8, 1992 The Krasnovodsk - Baku passenger see ferry was blown up by armenians. 25 persons died and 88 were seriously wounded January 14, 1992 Establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey 5 Administrative Department of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan P R E S I D E N T I A L L I B R A R Y January 20, 1992 Azerbaijan joined the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) Establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and January 21, 1992 Switzerland Establishment of diplomatic relations