28 May is one of the glorious days in the contemporary history of Azerbaijan. On this day, Azerbaijani people celebrate the anniversary of the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.
On 28 May 1918 National Council formed by Azerbaijani intellectuals adopted the declaration on the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. Declaration composed of six provisions confirming territorial integrity, sovereignty and the jurisdiction of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, determining the identity of Azerbaijani nation, and recognizing fundamental rights and freedoms of all ethnic minorities and religious groups living within Azerbaijan.
The first capital of Azerbaijan was Ganja, but it was subsequently moved to Baku after the defeat of Bolshevik\Dashnak militants by the Caucasian Islam Army, which included the Ottoman and Azerbaijan armed forces.
The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was the first secular and modern Republic in the Muslim East, based on European values and principles, which gave the franchise to all women, in advance of the Muslim world and even some western countries.
With the foundation of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani people demonstrated to the world deep interest and willingness to have sovereignty, territorial integrity, and democratic institutions.
Despite the occupation of Azerbaijan by the Red Army in 1920, Azerbaijani people had never forgotten their independence since that year. They again reestablished the independence of the Azerbaijan Republic in 1991 with a strong struggle for freedom.