Azerbaijan celebrates 31th anniversary of restoration of independence in 1991

Today, Azerbaijanis around the world celebrate the Day of Restoration of State Independence of Azerbaijan.

Caliber.Az reports that on October 18, 1991, the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan adopted the Constitutional Act on the State Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The constitutional act is based on the Declaration of Independence adopted by the National Council of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic on May 28, 1918, and the Declaration of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated August 30, 1991 "On the restoration of the state independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan" and acknowledges modern-day Azerbaijan as the legal successor of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.

This year marks the 31st anniversary of the restoration of the independence of Azerbaijan, the largest country in the South Caucasus.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Azerbaijani people created an independent republic, and in 1991 the Republic of Azerbaijan restored its independence after separating from the collapsed Soviet Union.

In May 1992, the National Anthem of the country was adopted (music by Uzeyir Gadzhibekov, lyrics by Ahmed Javad), and after some time, a tricolour flag and a state emblem were approved.

At the plenary session of the Parliament of Azerbaijan on October 15, 2021, a new law "On Independence Day" was adopted. On the same day, President Ilham Aliyev approved the law "On Independence Day".

According to the law, May 28 - Republic Day and October 18 - State Independence Day were renamed - May 28 was declared Independence Day, and October 18 - the Day of the Restoration of Independence.

This year's celebrations come shortly before the victory of Azerbaijan in the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020, which restored the country's territorial integrity by putting an end to decades-long Armenian occupation.