Remembering Mammad Amin Rasulzadeh, pioneer of Azerbaijan’s independence

Today marks the 142nd anniversary of the birth of Mammad Amin Rasulzadeh, a prominent statesman and public figure, politician, journalist, and one of the founders of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, which existed from 1918 to 1920.

According to Caliber.Az, Rasulzadeh was born on January 31, 1884, in the village of Novkhani near Baku. His father enrolled him in the Second Russian-Muslim School, headed by the well-known educator Sultan Majid Ganizadeh. After completing his studies there, Rasulzadeh continued his education in Russian at the Baku Technical School.

In 1902, at just 17 years old, Rasulzadeh established the Muslim Youth Organisation, marking the beginning of his political and social activism.

In the autumn of 1917, he was elected as a deputy to the Russian parliament, representing Azerbaijan and Turkestan. On May 26, 1918, the Transcaucasian Sejm was dissolved due to internal disputes among its factions. The following day, May 27, the National Council of Azerbaijan was formed from members of the Sejm’s Muslim faction representing various political parties. Rasulzadeh was elected chairman of the National Council by a majority vote.

On May 28, 1918, the declaration of Azerbaijan’s independence was announced worldwide through radio broadcasts and newspapers. This historic event signified that the Azerbaijani people had declared their existence to the international community and established their own national state. Under the leadership of Fatali Khan Khoyski, the government of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was formed. As a result, Azerbaijan became the first independent republic not only among Turkic peoples but throughout the entire East.

The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, however, lasted only 23 months. Following the occupation of Azerbaijan by Soviet Russia on April 28, 1920, Rasulzadeh was forced to leave the country. He spent many years abroad continuing the struggle for Azerbaijan’s independence and freedom.

Mammad Amin Rasulzade died in Ankara on March 6, 1955, from diabetes.

In recognition of his legacy, on December 29, 1993, President Heydar Aliyev signed a decree on commemorating the 110th anniversary of Rasulzadeh, a prominent socio-political figure of Azerbaijan. Later, on December 30, 2023, President Ilham Aliyev issued an order on holding events to mark the 140th anniversary of Mammad Amin Rasulzadeh.

By Tamilla Hasanova