Revisiting history: Armenia’s embassy once stood in heart of Baku Architecture in photos

The initialing of the "Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia" at the White House, in the presence of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and US President Donald Trump, marked a historic moment, paving the way for significant positive changes in the political relationship between the two countries.

In this context, many people on social media—including followers of Caliber.Az—are wondering if, once both sides have fulfilled all the agreements and signed a comprehensive peace treaty, Azerbaijan and Armenia could be expected to open embassies in each other’s countries in the near future.

Given this, it’s worth taking a brief look back at history to remember that Armenia once had an embassy right in the heart of Baku.

This was during the era of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) from 1918 to 1920.

The diplomatic mission of Armenia (then the First Republic of Armenia) in Azerbaijan was located in the very center of its capital city, at 5 Telefonnaya Street. The diplomatic representative at that time was G. A. Bekzadyan.

At different times, this street was also known as Romanovsky Avenue, 28 April Street, and William Lindley Street.

The current address of this architectural building is 28 May Street, 5, Nasimi district, Baku (at the intersection with Rashid Behbudov Street, near Secondary School No. 23).

The building is an architectural monument, constructed between 1895 and 1898 based on the design of Johann Wilhelm Edel (after baptism, Ivan Vasilyevich Edel), a German architect and a state councilor born in the Russian Empire.

It’s worth noting that he designed 20 buildings in Baku, 14 of which still stand today.