Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan

The Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan SSR, later renamed as the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan Republic from 1991 until its abolition in 1995, was the supreme soviet (main legislative institution) of the Azerbaijan SSR, and later the Republic of Azerbaijan. The Supreme Soviet officially disbanded in 1995 when a semi-presidential system was implemented.

History During the last session of Azerbaijani Parliament on April 27, 1920 under pressure of the Bolshevik Russian 11th Red Army and ultimatum from Caucasian Committee of the Russian Communist Party which invaded Azerbaijan, the deputies decided to disband the government in favour of the Bolsheviks to avoid bloodshed.

Once the Bolsheviks took over, they abolished all structures of the Azerbaijani government and established the Azerbaijan Interim Revolutionary Committee administered by Azerbaijani communists Nariman Narimanov, Aliheydar Garayev, Gazanfar Musabekov, Hamid Sultanov and Dadash Bunyadzade. The Bolsheviks dissolved the Azerbaijani Army, executed its generals and officers, and nationalized private industries.

In May 1921, the first All-Azerbaijan Soviet Session made up of newly elected deputies from all regions of Azerbaijan convened in Baku. The Provisional Revolutionary Committee and all existing local committees were effectively canceled. 1,400 village Soviets were established and 30,000 deputies were organized. The first session established the Azerbaijan Central Executive Committee consisting of 75 members and its board with 13 members. From 1921 through 1937, nine sessions of All-Azerbaijan Soviets were convened.

In 1937, during the 9th session of the All-Azerbaijani Soviets a new Azerbaijan SSR Constitution was ratified and the new legislative body the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan SSR was established.

The first elections to Supreme Soviet took place on June 24, 1938. Out of 310 deputies elected, 107 were workers, 88 collective farmers and 115 educated civil servants. 72 of the deputies were women. Due to the authoritarian nature of Soviet rule where most new initiatives were met with hostility, the parliament was virtually ineffective. Due to multiple reforms and restructuring in the government of the Azerbaijan SSR in the 1970s–1980s, the role of the Supreme Soviet increased. Many legislative reforms including the ratification of the new Azerbaijan SSR Constitution of 1977 took place. After the demands of the Armenian SSR to transfer the NKAO region of Azerbaijan to Armenia, the parliament was largely passive and indifferent. On October 18, 1991 the Supreme Soviet passed a resolution confirming the restoration of the independence of Azerbaijan.

Convocations

1st Convocation (1938–1947) 2nd Convocation (1947–1950) 3rd Convocation (1951–1955) 4th Convocation (1955–1959) 5th Convocation (1959–1963) 6th Convocation (1963–1966) 7th Convocation (1967–1971) 8th Convocation (1971–1975) 9th Convocation (1975–1980) 10th Convocation (1980–1985) 11th Convocation (1985–1991) 12th Convocation (1991–1995)

Chairperson PictureNameTook officeLeft officePolitical partyChairperson of the Supreme Soviet1Mir Teymur Yagubov (1904–1970)18 July 19387 April 1941CPSU2Aziz Aliyev (1896–1962)7 April 19416 March 1944CPSU3Sultan Gafarzade (1908–1955)6 March 194422 March 1947CPSU4Yusif Yusifov (1906–1995)22 March 194726 March 1951CPSU5Aghamirza Ahmadov (1905–1964)26 March 195118 April 1953CPSU6Mustafa Topchubashov

(1895–1981)18 April 195325 March 1955CPSU7Abdulla Bayramov (1912–1977)25 March 195523 January 1958CPSU8Mirza Ibrahimov (1911–1993)23 January 195825 March 1959CPSU9Gazanfar Jafarli (1920–1973)25 March 195926 November 1959CPSU10Ali Taghizade (1883–1966)26 November 195929 March 1963CPSU11 Mammad Dadashzade (1904–1975)29 March 19635 April 1967CPSU12Mustafa Topchubashov (1895–1981)5 April 19671 July 1971CPSU13Suleyman Rustamzade (1906–1989)1 July 197110 June 1989CPSU14Elmira Gafarova (1934–1993)18 May 19905 March 1992CPSU15Yagub Mammadov (born 1941)5 March 199218 May 1992None16Isa Gambar (born 1957)18 May 199215 June 1993Musavat17Heydar Aliyev (1923–2003)15 June 19935 November 1993New Azerbaijan Party18Rasul Guliyev (born 1947)5 November 199324 November 1995None

Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan

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