International Solidarity Day of Azerbaijanis

International Solidarity Day of Azerbaijanis (Azerbaijani: Dünya Azərbaycanlılarının Həmrəyliyi Günü) is an annual public holiday in Azerbaijan celebrating the worldwide solidarity and unity of Azerbaijanis.[3] The day was inspired by the dismantling of border fences between Soviet Azerbaijan and Iran in December 1989 and the collapse of the Berlin Wall[4] in the same year.


International Solidarity Day of Azerbaijanis
Dünya Azərbaycanlılarının Həmrəyliyi Günü
Observed byAzerbaijani people[1][2]
Date31 December
Next time31 December 2021 (2021-12)
Frequencyannual

History

In 1989 the local residents took down the Soviet–Iranian border in then-Nakhichevan ASSR to reunite with Iranian Azerbaijanis.[5] On the same day, the first World Congress of Azerbaijanis took place in Istanbul.

The day was first promoted on 16 December 1991 by then-Chairman of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Supreme Assembly Heydar Aliyev. The various governments that have been in power since Azerbaijan's independence from the Soviet Union have all marked that day.[6] Aliyev raised the issue before the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan SSR to declare that date a holiday at state level. The holiday eventually gained a state status in 1992, with Abulfaz Elchibey's presidential decree.

The day was entered into the Labor Code of Azerbaijan as a non-working day,[7] coinciding with New Year's Eve, and is celebrated by Azerbaijani diaspora across the world.

References
  1. "Сегодня День солидарности азербайджанцев мира - Vesti.Az". Archived from the original on 2011-01-02. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
  2. DAK 31 Dеkabr Dünya Azərbaycanlılarının Həmrəylik Günü və Yeni İl Bayramı münasibətilə 50 milyonluq soydaşımızı ürəkdən təbrik edir
  3. "History of Solidarity Day in Azerbaijan".
  4. Breaking Down The Azerbaijani-Iranian Border Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
  5. "International Solidarity Day of Azerbaijanis, Unity Feast of Azerbaijani Diasporas".
  6. Vladimir Babak; Demian Vaisman; Aryeh Wasserman, eds. (2004). Political Organization in Central Asia and Azerbaijan: Sources and Documents. Routledge. p. 85. ISBN 1135776814.
  7. "Azerbaijan Labor Code". International Labour Organization. Retrieved 25 December 2018.

See also
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