Azerbaijan celebrates Independence Day

Today, May 28, marks Independence Day in Azerbaijan.

On this day, in 1918, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) was founded.

The ADR was the first democratic and parliamentary republic in the entire East. The ADR adopted state attributes - flag, coat of arms, and anthem. Its tricolour flag harmoniously combined Turkism, Islam and European origin.

However, the ADR was destined to exist for only 23 months. On April 28, 1920, the 11th Red Army of Soviet Russia occupied Baku and the republic fell.

Since 1990 Azerbaijan has celebrated Republic Day on May 28 every year. Last October, the Milli Majlis (parliament) proposed that May 28 be celebrated annually in Azerbaijan as Independence Day and October 18 as Independence Restoration Day.