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proper political assessment of the slaughter of January 20, 1990,
the day after the tragedy.
Having come without delay to Baku and not being able to stay
in the capital due to the betrayal of the Azerbaijani leadership in
the face of the Kremlin, Heydar Aliyev’s return to Nakhchivan
saved it from the danger of Armenian occupation during 1990-
1993. Hearing of his activity in Nakhchivan, Heydar Aliyev was
also a beacon of hope for all of Azerbaijan. His speech at the ses-
sion of the Supreme Soviet in February 1991 and the fact that the
referendum concerning the continuance of the USSR did not take
place in Nakhchivan are convincing testimonies of this.
On September 4, 1991, despite his rejection, the Nakhchivan
Autonomous Republic’s Supreme Assembly elected Heydar Ali-
yev its chairman. Soviet power in Nakhchivan was eliminated. A
decision was adopted on not holding the presidential elections for
the Republic of Azerbaijan in Nakhchivan. The Supreme Assem-
bly’s meeting on September 5 discussed the tense situation in the
Autonomous Republic’s economy, as well as the measures for its
normalization and relief from the critical situation.48 The politi-
cal activity accompanied by economic conditions was a striking
example of Heydar Aliyev’s ideology.
Thus, the two periods of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Repub-
lic’s history that differed from each other because of their mean-
ings and essence under the leadership of Heydar Aliyev, were part-
ing; the Soviet period was ending and the people’s long-wished-for
period of independence was beginning. The process of building a
new Azerbaijan had begun in Nakhchivan. This historic process
was led by the great leader Heydar Aliyev.
Independence is the greatest wish of every nation. Azerbaijan’s
achievement of independence once again was a crucial attainment
of the people. Unlike Baku, where disputes for power and political
anarchy had no limits, Nakhchivan, led by Heydar Aliyev, was at
the forefront of the struggle for liberty and the process of building
a new life. The decision to depart from the USSR was initially
adopted and the referendum concerning the continuance of the
USSR was rejected in Nakhchivan. The process of building a new
and independent Azerbaijan was successfully continued in Nakh-
chivan. Yet, instead of benefiting from Heydar Aliyev’s personal-
ity and Nakhchivan’s experience, official Baku continued the path
of pressing Nakhchivan and restricting the autonomous republic’s
rights. During this period, efforts were made for extraction of the
provision of the Republic of Azerbaijan Constitution’s Article 112
concerning the chairman of the Nakhchivan Supreme Assembly
and for the annulment of Nakhchivan’s autonomy in general.
But all of these efforts failed. Even in such a complex and histor-
ically trying period, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic main-
tained its autonomy due to the wisdom and determination of Hey-
dar Aliyev. This was confirmed later in the Constitution of 1998.
While political anarchy and chaos were raging in Baku because
of power clashes, a stable government had formed in Nakhchivan.
Achievements in different fields of socio-economic and cultural
life were maintained in Nakhchivan while living under a block-
ade and a resolute struggle began for giving it new content. The
accomplishments made in Nakhchivan in the period from Sep-
tember 1991 until June 1993 have been reflected in Heydar Al-
iyev’s speeches, public addresses, and interviews, as well as in
documents in the press and different collections. These speeches
mainly deal with the improvement of the Autonomous Republic’s
management system, the preparation and the realization of socio-
economic reforms, the establishment of relations with bordering
countries, particularly Turkey, and a new policy for the elimina-
tion of the blockade. The opening of the bridge connecting Nakh-
chivan and Turkey in Sadarak on May 28, 1992 was of particularly
great importance. Heydar Aliyev called this bridge “the bridge of
our wishes and hopes.”
The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic was becoming a sta-
bilizing factor not only within its boundaries, but also in all of
Azerbaijan. This was one of the unmatched virtues of Nakhchivan
in the modern history of Azerbaijan. It was no accident that the
attention of the whole Republic was focused on Nakhchivan
during the events of June 1993 when the chairman of the Nakh-
chivan Supreme Assembly, Heydar Aliyev, came to Baku by popu-
lar demand and changes commenced in the Republic’s political
leadership. A civil war and the activity of separatist forces were
prevented, stability and welfare were restored, and the develop-
ment and implementation of socio-economic reforms began. The
Salvation Struggle launched by Heydar Aliyev achieved victory.
Heydar Aliyev’s care and attention as the head of the Republic of
Azerbaijan also played a decisive role in the further development
of Nakhchivan.
One of the most important political events in the history of the
Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic during the period of Azerbai-
jan’s independence was the adoption of a new Constitution for-
malizing the achievements it gained in historic and modern devel-
Azerbaijani carpets / NAKHCHIVAN GROUP
Ajami Nakhchivani's monument. Nakhchivan city.