Today in history: The first session of the Azerbaijan Parliament
On December 7, 1918, the inaugural session of the first parliament took place in the former Girls’ School building on H.Z. Taghiyev’s “Nikolayev” Street, now known as “Istiglaliyet” Street. M.A. Rasulzade, the Chairman of the National Council of Azerbaijan, officially opened the parliament with a congratulatory speech. The parliament, led by A. Topchubashov as its chairman and Hasanbay Agayev as its first deputy, comprised 120 members.
Although its existence was brief, spanning only 17 months until April 27, 1920, the parliament of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic demonstrated remarkable efficiency. Over this period, it proposed more than 270 bills, of which approximately 230 were successfully approved.
The focus of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic’s Parliament was dedicated to addressing the nation’s socio-economic challenges, safeguarding its political and territorial integrity, reinforcing democratic and legal foundations, obtaining international recognition, and fostering diverse relations with foreign nations. Within the fledgling independent republic, these progressive and democratic laws spanned various aspects of social life, showcasing a commitment to excellence and democratic values.
