28 May, Azerbaijan refers to Republic Day (Azerbaijani: Respublika Günü), a significant national holiday in Azerbaijan commemorating the declaration of independence of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) on May 28, 1918.
Historical Context Following the collapse of the Russian Empire and the tumultuous events of the Russian Civil War, the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic, a short-lived state comprising modern-day Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia, dissolved. On May 28, 1918, the Azerbaijan National Council, chaired by Mammad Amin Rasulzadeh, proclaimed the independence of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in Tiflis (modern-day Tbilisi, Georgia).
The ADR was notable for being the first secular democratic republic in the Muslim East. It introduced a range of progressive reforms, including granting universal suffrage to all citizens regardless of ethnicity, religion, or gender, making Azerbaijan one of the first countries in the world to grant women the right to vote. The republic established a parliament, government, and state attributes such as a national flag and anthem. Its brief existence, however, was cut short by the invasion of the Soviet Red Army in April 1920, leading to the incorporation of Azerbaijan into the Soviet Union.
Modern Significance After regaining its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the Republic of Azerbaijan officially recognized May 28 as Republic Day. It is celebrated annually as a public holiday, honoring the legacy of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic as the foundation of modern Azerbaijani statehood. The day is marked by various ceremonial events, cultural activities, and public celebrations across the country, emphasizing national pride and the historical struggle for independence.