History of Azerbaijan in Timeline

Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a transcontinental and landlocked country situated at the intersection of West Asia and Eastern Europe, within the South Caucasus region. It borders the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia's Dagestan to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia and Turkey to the west, and Iran to the south. Baku serves as its capital and largest city.

April 1918: March Days Massacres

Between March 30th and April 2nd of 1918, the March Days massacres took place in Baku and adjacent areas of the Baku Governorate.

May 1918: Declaration of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic

In May 1918, the leading Musavat party declared independence as the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR).

June 1918: Creation of the National Army of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic

On 26 June 1918, the National Army of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was created.

1918: Azerbaijan's Brief Independence

In 1918, Azerbaijan experienced a brief period of independence, which was resisted when the country was reconquered.

1918: Proclamation of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic

In 1918, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic proclaimed its independence from the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic, becoming the first secular democratic Muslim-majority state.

1918: Adoption of the Name Azerbaijan

In 1918, the government of Musavat adopted the name Azerbaijan after the collapse of the Russian Empire.

June 1919: Premiere of "The Celebration of the Anniversary of Azerbaijani Independence" in June 1919

In June 1919, the documentary "The Celebration of the Anniversary of Azerbaijani Independence" premiered at several theaters in Baku.

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April 1920: Establishment of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic

On April 28, 1920, the Bolshevik 11th Soviet Red Army invaded Azerbaijan, establishing the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic.

1920: Nationalization of Azerbaijani Cinema in 1920

After the Soviet power was established, Nariman Narimanov signed a decree nationalizing Azerbaijan's cinema in 1920.

1920: Establishment of the Soviet Union in 1920

Azerbaijani filmmakers are once again dealing with issues similar to those faced prior to the establishment of the Soviet Union in 1920.

1920: Incorporation into the Soviet Union

In 1920, Azerbaijan was conquered and incorporated into the Soviet Union as the Azerbaijan SSR.

October 1921: Signing of the Treaty of Kars

On October 13, 1921, the Soviet republics of Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia signed the Treaty of Kars with Turkey.

1940: Use of Cyrillic Script

From 1940, the country's name was spelled in Cyrillic script as Азәрбајҹан.

1941: Azerbaijan's Involvement in WWII Begins

In 1941, Azerbaijanis started fighting in the Second World War.

February 1942: Awards for Oil Industry Workers

In February 1942, by decree of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union, more than 500 workers and employees of the oil industry of Azerbaijan were awarded orders and medals for their commitment.

1945: End of World War II

In 1945, World War II ended, during which Azerbaijan played a crucial role in the strategic energy policy of the Soviet Union.

1970: Literacy Rates in 1970

According to Soviet data, 100 percent of males and females (ages nine to forty-nine) were literate in Azerbaijan in 1970.

1970: Ethnic Demographics in Azerbaijan

According to the 1970 census, there were 510,000 ethnic Russians and 484,000 Armenians in Azerbaijan.

1989: Armenian Language in Nagorno-Karabakh in 1989

In 1989, Armenian was the majority language in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, spoken by about 76% of the regional population.

1990: Forest Cover in Azerbaijan

In 1990, forest cover was 944,740 hectares.

1990: Restoration of the State Flag

In 1990, the Supreme Council of the Azerbaijan SSR dropped "Soviet Socialist" from the title, adopted the "Declaration of Sovereignty of the Azerbaijan Republic", and restored the flag of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic as the state flag.

August 1991: Proclamation of Independence

In August 1991, the modern Republic of Azerbaijan proclaimed its independence shortly before the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

September 1991: Formation of the Republic of Artsakh

In September 1991, the ethnic Armenian majority of the Nagorno-Karabakh region formed the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh.

October 1991: Creation of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan

On 9 October 1991, after Azerbaijan gained independence, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan were created according to the law on the armed forces.

October 1991: Declaration of Independence

On October 18, 1991, the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan adopted a Declaration of Independence.

1991: Azerbaijan joins international financial institutions

After gaining independence in 1991, Azerbaijan became a member of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Islamic Development Bank, and the Asian Development Bank.

1991: First Baku International Film Festival East-West held in Baku in 1991

In 1991, after Azerbaijan gained independence from the Soviet Union, the first Baku International Film Festival East-West was held in Baku.

1991: End of Cyrillic Script Usage

In 1991, the use of the Cyrillic script for the country's name ended.

1991: Environmental Preservation Measures

Since independence in 1991, the government has taken measures to preserve the environment of Azerbaijan.

1992: Creation of the National Bank of Azerbaijan

In 1992, the National (now Central) Bank was created based on the Azerbaijan State Savings Bank, an affiliate of the former State Savings Bank of the USSR.

1993: Overthrow of President Abulfaz Elchibey

In 1993, democratically elected President Abulfaz Elchibey was overthrown by a military insurrection.

1993: Aliyev Political Family in Power

Since 1993, the government has been ruled by the Aliyev political family and the New Azerbaijan Party.

1993: New Azerbaijan Party in Power

Since 1993, the ruling New Azerbaijan Party has been in power and has been accused of authoritarianism.

September 1994: Contract signed between SOCAR and oil companies

In September 1994, a 30-year contract was signed between the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) and 13 oil companies, including Amoco, BP, ExxonMobil, Lukoil and Equinor.

1994: End of Hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh War

By the end of the hostilities in 1994, Armenians controlled 14–16 percent of Azerbaijani territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh.

1994: Attempted Coup Against Heydar Aliyev

In 1994, Huseynov, then prime minister, attempted another military coup against Heydar Aliyev but was arrested.

November 1995: Adoption of the Constitution

On 12 November 1995, the structural formation of the political system was completed by the adoption of the constitution.

1995: GDP level in Azerbaijan

By 2012, the GDP of Azerbaijan had increased 20-fold from its 1995 level.

1995: Attempted Coup by Rovshan Javadov

In 1995, another coup was attempted against Aliyev by Rovshan Javadov, which was averted.

November 1996: Bahrain recognizes Azerbaijan

On 6 November 1996, Bahrain was the most recent country to recognize Azerbaijan's independence from the collapsing Soviet Union.

April 1997: Establishment of the Security Council

On 10 April 1997, the Security Council was established as a deliberative body under the president, organized according to the constitution.

October 1998: Re-election of Heydar Aliyev

In October 1998, Aliyev was re-elected for a second term.

June 1999: Legal status of local state administration

On 16 June 1999, the legal status of local state administration was determined through the adoption of the provision on local executive authority.

December 2000: Proclamation of Filmmakers' Professional Holiday in December 2000

In December 2000, former President Heydar Aliyev signed a decree proclaiming August 2 to be the professional holiday of filmmakers of Azerbaijan.

2001: Acceleration of Environmental Protection

National protection of the environment accelerated after 2001 due to increased state budget revenues from the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline.

2001: Azerbaijan joins Council of Europe

Since 2001, Azerbaijan has been a member of the Council of Europe.

2002: Christian Denominations in Azerbaijan in 2002

As of 2002, other Christian denominations in Azerbaijan included Lutherans, Baptists, and Molokans.

2002: Azerbaijani merchant marine

In 2002 the Azerbaijani merchant marine had 54 ships.

2002: Ministry of Transport Established and Vienna Convention on Road Traffic Membership

In 2002, the government established the Ministry of Transport with broad policy and regulatory functions. Also in 2002, Azerbaijan became a member of the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic.

2003: Ilham Aliyev Becomes President

In 2003, Ilham Aliyev became President of Azerbaijan after the death of his father, Heydar Aliyev.

2003: Number of Roman Catholics in Azerbaijan in 2003

In 2003, there were 250 Roman Catholics in Azerbaijan.

2005: Azerbaijan Women's Volleyball Super League placed fourth

In 2005, the Azerbaijan Women's Volleyball Super League achieved fourth place at the European Championship.

January 2006: Launch of the new Azerbaijani manat

On 1 January 2006, a new currency, the new Azerbaijani manat, was launched to cement the economic reforms and erase the vestiges of an unstable economy.

May 2006: Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline becomes operational

In May 2006, the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline (BTC) became operational. This pipeline stretches over 1,774 km through Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey and is designed to transport up to 50 million tons of crude oil annually from the Caspian Sea oilfields to global markets.

May 2006: Azerbaijan Elected to Human Rights Council

On 9 May 2006, Azerbaijan was elected to membership in the newly established Human Rights Council by the United Nations General Assembly.

June 2006: Term of office began for Human Rights Council

On 19 June 2006, Azerbaijan began its term of office as a member of the newly established Human Rights Council.

2006: Gallup Poll on Religion's Importance in 2006

In a 2006–2008 Gallup poll, only 21% of respondents from Azerbaijan stated that religion is an important part of their daily lives.

2007: Agricultural area in Azerbaijan

At the beginning of 2007, there were 4,755,100 hectares of used agricultural area in Azerbaijan, with total wood resources counted at 136 million m.

2007: Inflation Rate Reaches 16.6%

In 2007 Q1, the inflation rate in Azerbaijan reached 16.6% due to spending and demand growth.

2008: Azerbaijan's Eurovision Debut in 2008

Azerbaijan made its debut appearance at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2008.

2008: Gallup Poll on Religion's Importance in 2008

In a 2006–2008 Gallup poll, only 21% of respondents from Azerbaijan stated that religion is an important part of their daily lives.

2009: Ethnic Composition of Population in 2009

According to the 2009 population census, the ethnic composition of Azerbaijan's population was: 91.6% Azerbaijanis, 2.0% Lezgins, 1.4% Armenians, 1.3% Russians, 1.3% Talysh, 0.6% Avars, 0.4% Turkish people, 0.3% Tatars, 0.3% Tats, 0.2% Ukrainians, 0.1% Tsakhurs, 0.1% Georgians, 0.1% Jews, 0.1% Kurds, and 0.2% other ethnicities.

2009: Literacy Rate in 2009

According to the United Nations Development Program Report, the literacy rate in Azerbaijan was 99.5 percent in 2009.

2009: Telephone and Internet Statistics in 2009

As of 2009, Azerbaijan had 1,397,000 main telephone lines and 1,485,000 internet users. There were four GSM providers: Azercell, Bakcell, Azerfon (Nar Mobile), and Nakhtel mobile network operators, along with one CDMA provider.

2009: Azerbaijan Wins European Team Chess Championship in 2009

Azerbaijan became European Team Chess Championship winners in 2009.

2009: Azerbaijan's Eurovision Entry Gains Third Place in 2009

Azerbaijan's Eurovision entry gained third place in 2009.

2009: Azerbaijan's ashiq art included in UNESCO list in 2009

Azerbaijan's ashiq art was included in the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2009.

2009: Araz Naxçivan Clinches Bronze Medals in 2009-10

Domestic club Araz Naxçivan clinched bronze medals at the 2009–10 UEFA Futsal Cup.

2009: Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships hosted

In 2009, Azerbaijan hosted the Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships.

November 2010: Azerbaijani Carpet Proclaimed a Masterpiece of Intangible Heritage by UNESCO in November 2010

In November 2010, the Azerbaijani carpet was proclaimed a Masterpiece of Intangible Heritage by UNESCO.

2010: Growth in visitor exports

According to a report by the World Travel and Tourism Council, Azerbaijan was among the top ten countries showing the strongest growth in visitor exports between 2010 and 2016.

2010: Global Competitiveness Report

Azerbaijan is ranked 57th in the Global Competitiveness Report for 2010–2011, above other CIS countries.

2010: Railway and Airport Infrastructure in 2010

By 2010, Broad-gauge railways and electrified railways stretched for 2,918 km and 1,278 km respectively. By 2010, Azerbaijan had 35 airports and one heliport.

2010: Parliamentary Election

During the 2010 Parliamentary election, the opposition parties, Musavat and Azerbaijani Popular Front Party, failed to win a single seat.

2010: European Wrestling Championships hosted

In 2010, Azerbaijan hosted the European Wrestling Championships.

2010: Azerbaijan National Futsal Team Reaches Fourth Place in 2010

The Azerbaijan national futsal team reached fourth place in the 2010 UEFA Futsal Championship.

2011: Global Competitiveness Report

Azerbaijan is ranked 57th in the Global Competitiveness Report for 2010–2011, above other CIS countries.

2011: Azerbaijan Wins Eurovision Song Contest 2011

Ell and Nikki won the first place at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 with the song "Running Scared", entitling Azerbaijan to host the contest in 2012.

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2011: AIBA World Boxing Championships hosted

In 2011, Azerbaijan hosted the AIBA World Boxing Championships.

2011: Azerbaijan elected to UN Security Council

In 2011, Azerbaijan was first elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council with the support of 155 countries.

2011: Population Growth Rate and Migration in 2011

In 2011, Azerbaijan's population growth-rate was 0.85%, and it experienced a migration rate of −1.14/1,000 people.

June 2012: Additional powers to local executive authorities

In June 2012, the president approved a regulation granting additional powers to local executive authorities, strengthening their influence in local affairs.

2012: Azerbaijan Hosts Eurovision Song Contest in 2012

Azerbaijan hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in Baku in 2012 after winning the contest in 2011.

2012: GDP Increase

By 2012, the GDP of Azerbaijan had increased 20-fold from its 1995 level.

2012: Azerbaijan's money laundering scheme

From 2012 to 2014, Azerbaijan's ruling elite operated a secret $2.9bn (£2.2bn) scheme to pay prominent Europeans, buy luxury goods and launder money through a network of opaque British companies.

2012: Formula One racetrack construction

In 2012, Azerbaijan constructed a Formula One racetrack.

2012: FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup hosted

In 2012, Azerbaijan hosted the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.

2012: Neftchi Baku Advances to Group Stage in 2012

In 2012, Neftchi Baku became the first Azerbaijani team to advance to the group stage of a European competition.

2012: Construction of Kars–Tbilisi–Baku railway

In 2012, construction of the Kars–Tbilisi–Baku railway aimed to improve transportation between Asia and Europe by connecting the railways of China and Kazakhstan to the European railway system via Turkey.

2012: Rapid Growth Forecast in Internet Sector in 2012

In 2012, rapid growth was forecast for at least five more years in Azerbaijan's steadily growing Internet sector.

2012: US sends military aid to Azerbaijan

Since 2012, the US sent military aid to Azerbaijan until July 1, 2021, when Congress advanced legislation that will have an impact on it.

February 2013: Launch of AzerSat 1 Satellite in February 2013

On February 7, 2013, the Azerbaijan National Aerospace Agency launched its first satellite, AzerSat 1, into orbit from Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana. The satellite covers Europe, Asia, and Africa, serving the transmission of TV and radio broadcasting, as well as the Internet.

October 2013: Ilham Aliyev Re-elected for Third Term

In October 2013, Ilham Aliyev was re-elected to a third term as president.

2013: Freedom House Freedom of the Press report

According to the 2013 Freedom House Freedom of the Press report, Azerbaijan's press freedom status is "not free", and Azerbaijan ranks 177th out of 196 countries.

2013: Azerbaijan Wins European Team Chess Championship in 2013

Azerbaijan became European Team Chess Championship winners in 2013.

2013: Araz Naxçivan Clinches Bronze Medals in 2013-14

Domestic club Araz Naxçivan clinched bronze medals at the 2013–14 UEFA Futsal Cup.

2013: F1 Powerboat World Championship hosted

In 2013, Azerbaijan hosted the F1 Powerboat World Championship.

November 2014: Deterioration of media environment

In November 2014, the media environment deteriorated rapidly under a governmental campaign to silence any opposition and criticism, even while the country led the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (May–November 2014).

2014: Shamkir Chess Tournament in 2014

As of 2014, Azerbaijan hosted the Shamkir Chess tournament, a category 22 event and one of the highest-rated tournaments of all time.

2014: Azerbaijan Sponsors Atletico de Madrid in 2014

Azerbaijan was the main sponsor of Spanish football club Atlético de Madrid during seasons 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 to promote the image of Azerbaijan.

2014: Azerbaijan's money laundering scheme

From 2012 to 2014, Azerbaijan's ruling elite operated a secret $2.9bn (£2.2bn) scheme to pay prominent Europeans, buy luxury goods and launder money through a network of opaque British companies.

2014: European Taekwondo Championships hosted

In 2014, Azerbaijan hosted the European Taekwondo Championships and the Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships.

2014: Qarabağ Advances to UEFA Europa League Group Stage in 2014

In 2014, Qarabağ became the second Azerbaijani club advancing to the group stage of the UEFA Europa League.

October 2015: Amnesty International report on human rights

In October 2015, a report by an Amnesty International researcher pointed to "...the severe deterioration of human rights in Azerbaijan over the past few years.

2015: Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2015

According to the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2015 of the World Economic Forum, Azerbaijan holds 84th place.

2015: Azerbaijan Sponsors Atletico de Madrid in 2015

Azerbaijan was the main sponsor of Spanish football club Atlético de Madrid during seasons 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 to promote the image of Azerbaijan.

2015: Forest Ownership

In 2015, 100% of the forest area was reported to be under public ownership.

2015: Azerbaijan's imprisoned journalists

In 2015, Azerbaijan had the largest number of journalists imprisoned in Europe, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, and is the 5th most censored country in the world, ahead of Iran and China.

2015: Baku selected to host European Games

In 2015, Baku was selected to host the European Games.

2016: Fastest-developing travel and tourism economies

According to a report by the World Travel and Tourism Council, Azerbaijan placed first (46.1%) among countries with the fastest-developing travel and tourism economies in 2016, with strong indicators for inbound international visitor spending.

2016: Azerbaijan's Biocapacity

In 2016, Azerbaijan had 0.8 global hectares of biocapacity per person within its territory, half the world average of 1.6 global hectares per person, and used 2.1 global hectares of biocapacity per person, resulting in a biocapacity deficit.

2016: First Formula One Grand Prix

In 2016, Azerbaijan hosted its first Formula One Grand Prix.

2016: World Chess Olympiad hosted

In 2016, Azerbaijan hosted the World Chess Olympiad.

April 2017: The Guardian reports on Azerbaijani money laundering scheme

In April 2017, The Guardian reported that Azerbaijan's ruling elite operated a secret $2.9bn (£2.2bn) scheme to pay prominent Europeans, buy luxury goods and launder money through a network of opaque British companies from 2012 to 2014.

September 2017: Extension of ACG development agreement

On 14 September 2017, Azerbaijan extended the agreement on development of ACG until 2050 according to the amended PSA signed by SOCAR and co-ventures (BP, Chevron, Inpex, Equinor, ExxonMobil, TP, ITOCHU and ONGC Videsh).

2017: Azerbaijan Wins European Team Chess Championship in 2017

Azerbaijan became European Team Chess Championship winners in 2017.

2017: Islamic Solidarity Games hosted

In 2017, Baku hosted the fourth Islamic Solidarity Games.

2017: Qarabağ Reaches UEFA Champions League Group Stage in 2017

In 2017, after beating Copenhagen in the play-off round, Qarabağ became the first Azerbaijani club to reach the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.

2017: Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Since 2017, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix has been held in the country.

April 2018: Ilham Aliyev Secures Fourth Term

In April 2018, Ilham Aliyev secured his fourth consecutive term in an election boycotted by opposition parties.

2018: Azerbaijan Enters Eurovision with X My Heart in 2018

Azerbaijan entered the 2018 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest with X My Heart by singer Aisel.

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2018: Forest Landscape Integrity Index Score

In 2018, Azerbaijan had a Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 6.55/10, ranking it 72nd globally.

January 2019: Female Population Statistics in January 2019

In January 2019, females constituted 50.1% of the total population of Azerbaijan, with a sex ratio of 0.99 males per female.

2019: European Youth Summer Olympic Festival hosted

In 2019, Azerbaijan hosted the European Youth Summer Olympic Festival.

September 2020: Resumption of Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

On 27 September 2020, clashes in the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resumed along the Nagorno-Karabakh Line of Contact.

2020: Defense budget of Azerbaijan

As of 2020, Azerbaijan spent $2.24 billion on its defence budget, which was 5.4% of its total GDP.

2020: Second Nagorno-Karabakh War

Following the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020, the seven districts and parts of Nagorno-Karabakh were returned to Azerbaijani control.

2020: UEFA Euro hosted

In 2020, Azerbaijan was a host of UEFA Euro 2020.

July 2021: US Congress advances legislation impacting military aid

On 1 July 2021, the US Congress advanced legislation that will have an impact on the military aid that Washington has sent to Azerbaijan since 2012.

2021: Azerbaijan's active military personnel

As of 2021, Azerbaijan had 126,000 active personnel in its armed forces, along with paramilitary troops and reserve personnel.

2021: Azeriqaz aims for full gasification

Azeriqaz, a sub-company of SOCAR, intends to ensure full gasification of the country by 2021.

March 2022: Urban vs. Rural Population in March 2022

As of March 2022, 52.9% of Azerbaijan's population of 10,164,464 was urban, while the remaining 47.1% was rural.

September 2023: Azerbaijan Launches Offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh

In September 2023, Azerbaijan launched an offensive against the breakaway Republic of Artsakh in Nagorno-Karabakh.

2023: Azerbaijani Offensive and Dissolution of Artsakh

An Azerbaijani offensive in 2023 ended the Republic of Artsakh and resulted in the flight of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians.

January 2024: Dissolution and Reintegration of Artsakh

On January 1, 2024, the Republic of Artsakh was dissolved and reintegrated, leading to the flight of nearly all ethnic Armenians from the region.

2024: Azerbaijan Ranked 95th in Global Innovation Index in 2024

Azerbaijan was ranked 95th in the Global Innovation Index in 2024.

2024: Freedom House Ranking

In 2024, Freedom House ranked Azerbaijan 7/100 on the Global Freedom Score, categorizing it as "not free" and an authoritarian regime.

2050: ACG development agreement extended until 2050

In September 2017, Azerbaijan extended the agreement on development of ACG until 2050 according to the amended PSA signed by SOCAR and co-ventures (BP, Chevron, Inpex, Equinor, ExxonMobil, TP, ITOCHU and ONGC Videsh).