Azerbaijan: Political Timeline

1918–1920 Azerbaijan declares independence from Russia.

1922 Forms part of the USSR, within the Transcaucasian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic.

1936 Becomes a Union Republic in its own right

Sept 1988 Azerbaijan becomes the first Soviet republic outside the Baltics to declare its national sovereignty.

Jan 1990 Ayaz Mutalibov is appointed First Secretary of the local Communist Party

Sept 1991 Mutalibov wins presidential elections, unopposed with 80% of the vote

Oct 1991 Formal independence from the Soviet Union declared.

1992 Mutalibov and his (ex-Communist) Prime Minister, Hassanov are forced to resign following mass demonstrations over the ineffective Azeri response to Armenian military advances in Nagorno-Karabakh (N-K).

May 1992 Mutalibov tries, unsuccessfully, to seize back power. Popular protests prompted by the opposition Azerbaijani Popular Front (APF) force Mutalibov to flee to Moscow and Abulfaz Elchibey wins the presidential election with 64% of the vote.
Note
Elchibey's declared objectives were the building of a secular democratic system, very close links with Turkey, and an early victory in Nagorno-Karabakh. He transferred parliamentary powers from the ex-communist dominated Supreme Soviet to a 50-person Milli Majlis (Council), half of whose members were from the Popular Front. But, Elchibey failed to carry through his commitment to hold fresh parliamentary elections.

June 1993 Clashes between government troops and forces commanded by Colonel Surat Husseinov (a major industrialist and N-K hero) in Ganja (Azerbaijan's second city) leave over 50 people dead. Husseinov demands the resignation of those responsible and his men then march towards Baku.

In response, Elchibey invites his main rival for power, Heydar Aliev, (who became chairman of the Azerbaijani KGB in 1967, head of the Azerbaijani Communist Party in 1969, and was a long-standing Politburo member), to return to Baku as chairman of parliament. Elchibey flees to Nakhichevan and Aliev becomes acting President. Husseinov is appointed Prime Minister.

Oct 1993 Heydar Aliev gains 98.8% of the vote in the Presidential elections (according to official results). The UK team of observers (along with other Western observers) conclude that a genuine majority of voters support Heydar Aliev.

Sept 1994 Interior ministry troops, led by the Deputy Interior Minister, Rovshan Javadov, rebel and attack the Chief Prosecutor's department. Heydar Aliev alleges Husseinov has orchestrated an uprising in Ganja. Aliev invokes a state of emergency in Baku and Ganja and calls for mass demonstrations of support. He sacks the Chief Prosecutor and Husseinov, who is believed to have fled to Russia. A reconciliation takes place between Heydar Aliev and Javadov: Aliev retains control, and Javadov keeps his position.

March 1995 Simliar events, to those in September 1994, take place - the same interior ministry troops under the control of Javadov, rebel following a dispute with the local police and civilian authorities. The troops are ordered to surrender - Javadov retreats to his barracks on the outskirts of Baku.

17 Mar 1995 Government forces bring the rebellion to a violent end, killing Javadov. Aliev claims to have been the victim of several assassination attempts.

Feb 1996 20 former Interior Ministry troops and 25 others accused of involvement in the rebellions are convicted and sentenced to 10-15 years imprisonment.

Oct 1998 The main opposition parties boycott the presidential elections in protest at the composition of the Central Electoral Commission, which they see as biased in favour of Heydar Aliev. Aliev is declared winner with 76.11% of the vote. His nearest rival, Etibar Mammedov, is a distant second with 11.60%. The OSCE/Council of Europe conclude that the election process did not comply with international standards.

Nov 2000 Azerbajian holds parliamentary elections. International Observers note improvements in new electoral legislation, but the conduct of the election itself is seriously flawed. The turnout is hugely inflated and observers note widespread ballot stuffing. International observers from the OSCE and The Council of Europe strongly criticise the elections.

Jan 2001 In response to criticism, 11 seats are re-run. Many of the deficiencies observed in November are repeated, but International Observers acknowledge an improvement in standards.

24 Aug 2002 A constitutional referendum takes place, proposing 39 amendments to 24 articles of the constitution. An overwhelming majority of the alleged 88% of the electorate who participate endorsed the changes. However, there are numerous reports of irregularities in the voting process. The OSCE Office in Baku expresses concern about the reliability of the official figures.

June 2003 Heydar Aliev suffers a deterioration in his health.

Oct 2003 After a short term as Prime Minister, his son Ilham becomes the New Azerbaijan Party’s candidate for the Presidential elections. According to official results, Ilham Aliev won after the first round of voting with 76.84% of the vote. His closest rival Isa Gambar (Musavat Party) came second with 13.97%.

16 Oct 2003 There are violent clashes between opposition supporters and the police in central Baku, which lead to at least one death. The election was observed by a large OSCE/ODIHR mission. The OSCE concluded that although the electoral process was an improvement on previous elections, it still fell short of international standards in a number of areas. The final OSCE report called on the Government of Azerbaijan to implement 26 recommendations covering the election administration, the legal framework and the media.

Dec 2003 Heydar Aliev dies.

November 2005 Azerbaijan holds parliamentary elections. International Observers note improvements in new electoral legislation, including the introduction of finger inking, but the conduct of the election itself is flawed. Observers noted widespread irregularities. International observers from the OSCE and The Council of Europe criticise the elections.

May 2006 In response to criticism, 10 seats are re-run. Many of the deficiencies observed in November are repeated, but International Observers acknowledge an improvement in standards.

October 2008 New presidential elections will be held.