HISTORY OF THE MUSAVAT PARTY

CHRONOLOGY

The Musavat Party (Equality Party) was established in October 1911 in Baku. The founders of the party were the following people : Mehemmed Emin Resulzade, Mehemmed Eli Resuloghlu, Abbas Kazymzade, and Taghy Naghyoghlu. First party members were: Veli Mikayyloghlu, Seyid Huseyn Sadiq, Ebdurrehim bey, Yusif Ziya bey, and Seyid Musevi bey.

Musavat’s first Program was comprised of nine (9) articles in the spirit of Islamic values. This Program had been improved, and become substantial full of Turkism since 1913 following M.E. Resulzade’s return to Baku. The "Achyk Soz" (Open Word) newspaper edited by M.E. Resulzade also was published(October 1915) as Musavat’s publication. The newspaper was the first publication printed in Literary Turkish.

June 1917 – "The Turk Edemi Merkeziyyet Party" founded in Gence by Nesibbey Yusifbeyli was merged with the Musavat Party. The Headquarters remained in Baku, while it continued operating as a branch in Gence.

October 26-23, 1917 - The Musavat Party held its first Congress in the building “Ismailliye” located in Baku.

May 28, 1918 - By the initiative of Musavat Party a Declaration of Independence was proclaimed in Tiflis and People’s Republic of Azerbaijan was established. M.E. Resulzade was elected chairman of the National Council.

1919 – Musavat holds its second congress.

1918 through 1920 – The Musavat Party led efforts for establishing Azerbaijani statehood, parliamentary elections, and Azerbaijan’s recognition by the world community.

Since April 1920 after the Red Army invasion the Musavat Party headed by M. E. Resulzade starts functioning in the form of underground organization led by Mirze Bala Memmedzade, Ebdul Vahab Yurtsever, Memmed Sadyk Quluzade, Memmed Hesen Baharly, and Cefer Cabbarly. Under the repressive Soviet rule, Azerbaijan had faced over 150 armed uprisings initiated by the Musavat Party.

August 1936 – The Conference of the Musavat Party adopts “New Program Foundations”

June 1991 - N.Nesibzade is elected chairman of the Central Executive Committee during the First Congress of the Musavat Party.

November 1992 - The Musavat Party holds its Third Restoration Congress. Isa Gambar is elected Bashkan (chairman).

Currently the Musavat Party is the most influential party in Azerbaijan.

The People's Republic of Azerbaijan’s Declaration of Independence

1. Azerbaijan consisting of South and East Transcaucasia is declared a fully independent state from today, as the people of Azerbaijan exercise their right for self-determination.

2. The state form of government for the independent democratic Republic of Azerbaijan shall be called the People's Republic.

3. The People's Republic of Azerbaijan shall establish peaceful relations with all nations and peoples.

4. The People's Republic of Azerbaijan shall guarantee full political and civil rights for its citizens, regardless of nationality, faith, class, stratum, and sex.

5. The People's Republic of Azerbaijan shall create all opportunities for ethnic minorities living within its boundaries.

6. The executive Power shall be vested in a National Council of Azerbaijan elected through universal suffrage and a Provisional Government responsible to this Council, until the parliament (Milli Mejlis) is summoned.

National March Hymn of party

Emblem of party

Flag of party

The first chairman (bashgan) of party Musavat - Mehemmed Emin Resulzade