Law on Abolishment of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast
Encyclopedia
Law on Abolishment of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast is the Resolution
No. 279-XII passed by the National Assembly of Azerbaijan
and signed into law by the President of Azerbaijan
Ayaz Mutalibov on November 26, 1991.
(NKAO) was created as an autonomous oblast
by carving out the mountanous districts of Azerbaijan which constituted historic Karabakh
within Azerbaijan SSR
from July 7, 1923. Its borders were drawn to include as many Armenian-populated villages and excluded as many Azerbaijani villages as possible. NKAO included territories of former Javanshir
, Shusha, Jabrayil uyezds and a part of Qubadli
which was part of Zangezur Uyezd. The Russian term Nagorno (Mountanous) was affixed to the Turkic name Karabagh (Black Garden) and the name of the oblast was officially changed to Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast in 1937. In 1988, Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh demanded transfer of NKAO to Armenian SSR
. Following the escalation of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijan abolished Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast on November 26, 1991 rearranging the administrative division and bringing the territory under direct control of Azerbaijan.
to destroy all ethnic, historical, political, economic and moral values and riches of Azerbaijan, the parliament thus considered creation of the oblast illegitimate. The text also questioned as to why an enclave with Armenian minority was created on Azerbaijani territory while no cultural autonomy was given to half a million Azerbaijanis in Armenia
, and they were instead being deported en masse. The resolution condemned acts of Armenian militants in Karabakh and policies of Armenian Republic conducted in violation of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. Considering stipulations of the resolution, the parliament called on protection of sovereignty of Azerbaijan and full integration of mountainous part with the rest of Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.
In compliance with Article 68, Section 3, Item 2 of Clause 104 of Constitution of Azerbaijan Republic
and Article 4 of Constitution Act about State Sovereignty of Azerbaijan Republic, Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Republic was abolished. The Decree on Establishment of Nagorno-Karabakh Oblast of Azerbaijan Central Executive Committee date July 7, 1923 and the Law on Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast of Azerbaijan SSR dated June 16, 1981 were considered stale.
The cities of Stepanakert, Mardakert, Martuni were given back their historical names. Stepanakert was named back to Khankendi, Mardakert to Aghdara, Mardakert Rayon
to Aghdara Rayon, Martuni to Khojavend, Martuni Rayon
to Khojavend Rayon. Askeran
and Hadrut
rayons were abolished. Khojali Rayon was established with the administrative center in Khojaly and the abolished Askeran rayon was incorporated into it. The abolished Hadrut rayon was incorporated into Khojavend Rayon.
Law of Azerbaijan
The legal system of Azerbaijan is based around civil law. As the country was a republic of the Soviet Union until 1991, its legal history has also been influenced heavily by socialist law.-Criminal law:...
No. 279-XII passed by the National Assembly of Azerbaijan
National Assembly of Azerbaijan
The National Assembly , also transliterated as Milli Majlis is the legislative branch of government in Azerbaijan. The unicameral National Assembly has 125 deputies: previously 100 members were elected for five-year terms in single-seat constituencies and 25 were members elected by proportional...
and signed into law by the President of Azerbaijan
President of Azerbaijan
The country of Azerbaijan is a presidential republic, with the President of Azerbaijan as the head of state, and the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan as head of government...
Ayaz Mutalibov on November 26, 1991.
History
The Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous OblastNagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast
The Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast was an autonomous oblast within the borders of the Azerbaijan SSR, mostly inhabited by ethnic Armenians and created on July 7, 1923. According to Karl R. DeRouen it was created as an enclave so that a narrow strip of land would separate it from Armenia proper....
(NKAO) was created as an autonomous oblast
Autonomous oblast
An autonomous oblast is an autonomous entity within the state which is on the oblast level of the overall administrative subdivision. It may refer to:*Autonomous oblasts of the Soviet Union*Autonomous oblasts of Russia...
by carving out the mountanous districts of Azerbaijan which constituted historic Karabakh
Karabakh
The Karabakh horse , also known as Karabakh, is a mountain-steppe racing and riding horse. It is named after the geographic region where the horse was originally developed, Karabakh in the Southern Caucasus, an area that is de jure part of Azerbaijan but the highland part of which is currently...
within Azerbaijan SSR
Azerbaijan SSR
The Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Azerbaijan SSR for short, was one of the republics that made up the former Soviet Union....
from July 7, 1923. Its borders were drawn to include as many Armenian-populated villages and excluded as many Azerbaijani villages as possible. NKAO included territories of former Javanshir
Javanshir Uyezd
Dzhevanshirsky Uyezd also spelled as Jevanshir Uyezd, was one of the uyezds of Elisabethpol Governorate of the Russian Empire, with its center in Tartar in 1869–1918.-Geography:...
, Shusha, Jabrayil uyezds and a part of Qubadli
Qubadli
Qubadli is a rayon of Azerbaijan. The region has been under the control of the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, as part of its Qashatagh Province, since the Nagorno-Karabakh War. According to the last Soviet census of 1989, population was 28,110. According to undated Azerbaijani data, the...
which was part of Zangezur Uyezd. The Russian term Nagorno (Mountanous) was affixed to the Turkic name Karabagh (Black Garden) and the name of the oblast was officially changed to Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast in 1937. In 1988, Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh demanded transfer of NKAO to Armenian SSR
Armenian SSR
The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet...
. Following the escalation of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijan abolished Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast on November 26, 1991 rearranging the administrative division and bringing the territory under direct control of Azerbaijan.
Provisions
The Resolution No. 279-XII discussed in the Azerbaijani Parliament stated that whereas the existence Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast created in 1923 brought tensions between Azerbaijani and Armenian peoples, ran counter to national interests of Azerbaijan, created base and conditions for Armenian nationalistsArmenian nationalism
Armenian nationalism in the modern period has its roots in the romantic nationalism of Mikayel Chamchian and generally defined as the creation of a free, independent and united Armenia formulated as the Armenian Cause . Armenian national awakening developed in the 1880s in the context of the...
to destroy all ethnic, historical, political, economic and moral values and riches of Azerbaijan, the parliament thus considered creation of the oblast illegitimate. The text also questioned as to why an enclave with Armenian minority was created on Azerbaijani territory while no cultural autonomy was given to half a million Azerbaijanis in Armenia
Azerbaijanis in Armenia
The Turkic community in Armenia, which mostly identified themselves as Azerbaijanis in the 20th century, represented a large number but have been virtually non-existent since in 1988–1991. Most Azeris fled the country as a result of the Nagorno-Karabakh War and the ongoing conflict between Armenia...
, and they were instead being deported en masse. The resolution condemned acts of Armenian militants in Karabakh and policies of Armenian Republic conducted in violation of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. Considering stipulations of the resolution, the parliament called on protection of sovereignty of Azerbaijan and full integration of mountainous part with the rest of Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.
In compliance with Article 68, Section 3, Item 2 of Clause 104 of Constitution of Azerbaijan Republic
Constitution of Azerbaijan
The Constitution of Azerbaijan was adopted on 12 November 1995 by popular referendum and amended on 24 August 2002. It carries the "highest legal force" in Azerbaijan as per article 147.-Preamble:...
and Article 4 of Constitution Act about State Sovereignty of Azerbaijan Republic, Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Republic was abolished. The Decree on Establishment of Nagorno-Karabakh Oblast of Azerbaijan Central Executive Committee date July 7, 1923 and the Law on Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast of Azerbaijan SSR dated June 16, 1981 were considered stale.
The cities of Stepanakert, Mardakert, Martuni were given back their historical names. Stepanakert was named back to Khankendi, Mardakert to Aghdara, Mardakert Rayon
Mardakert Rayon (NKAO)
Mardakert Rayon was one of the five rayons of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic .Until September 1935 it was called Jraberd Rayon...
to Aghdara Rayon, Martuni to Khojavend, Martuni Rayon
Martuni Rayon (NKAO)
Martuni Rayon was one of the five rayons of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic ....
to Khojavend Rayon. Askeran
Askeran Rayon (NKAO)
Askeran Rayon was one of the five rayons of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic . Its capital was Askeran...
and Hadrut
Hadrut Rayon (NKAO)
Hadrut Rayon was one of the five rayons of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic .Until September 1935 it was called Dizag Rayon...
rayons were abolished. Khojali Rayon was established with the administrative center in Khojaly and the abolished Askeran rayon was incorporated into it. The abolished Hadrut rayon was incorporated into Khojavend Rayon.
See also
- List of United Nations Security Council resolutions on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict