Talysh-Mughan, officially known as the Talysh-Mughan Autonomous Republic ( Talysh: Толъш-Мъғонә Мохтарә Республикә, ''Tolış-Mığonə Muxtara Respublika''), was a short-lived autonomous republic in

Azerbaijan Azerbaijan (, ; az, Azərbaycan ), officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, , also sometimes officially called the Azerbaijan Republic is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is a part of th ...

that lasted from June to August 1993.BBC News. Azerbaijan in a stir over political prisoner
/ref> It was located in southeastern Azerbaijan, envisaging to consist of seven administrative districts of Azerbaijan around the regional capital city Lankaran: Lankaran city,

Lankaran Lankaran ( az, Lənkəran, ) is a city in Azerbaijan, on the coast of the Caspian Sea, near the southern border with Iran. As of 2021, the city had a population of 89,300. It is next to, but independent of, Lankaran District. The city forms a di ...

, Lerik, Astara, Masally, Yardymli, Jalilabad, Bilasuvar. Historically, the area had been a

khanate A khaganate or khanate was a polity ruled by a khan, khagan, khatun, or khanum. That political territory was typically found on the Eurasian Steppe and could be equivalent in status to tribal chiefdom, principality, kingdom or empire. Mo ...

. The flag of the Talysh-Mughan Autonomous Republic and the modern Talysh flag is a vertical tricolor of red, white, and green with a centered rising sun over blue sea. Since July 15, 2018, a group of young activists, together with Alikram Hummatov, has formed the government of the Talysh-Mugan Autonomous Republic in exile.

Political turmoil

The autonomous republic was proclaimed amid political turmoil in Azerbaijan. In June 1993 a military rebellion against president

Abulfaz Elchibey Abulfaz Elchibey ( az, Əbülfəz Elçibəy; 24 June 1938, in Nakhchivan – 22 August 2000, in Ankara) was an Azerbaijani political figure and a former Soviet dissident. His real name was Abulfaz Gadirgulu oghlu Aliyev (Azerbaijani: ''Əbülf� ...

broke out under the leadership of Colonel

Surat Huseynov Surat Davud oghlu Huseynov ( az, Surət Davud oğlu Hüseynov; born 12 February 1959 in Kirovabad) is an Azerbaijani colonel and ex-Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, who rose to prominence during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. His military career le ...

. Colonel Alikram Hummatov, a close associate of Huseynov, and the leader of the Talysh nationalists, seized power in the southern part of Azerbaijan and proclaimed the new republic in Lankaran, escalating violence. However, as the situation settled and

Heydar Aliyev Heydar Alirza oghlu Aliyev ( az, Һејдәр Әлирза оғлу Әлијев, italic=no, Heydər Əlirza oğlu Əliyev, ; , ; 10 May 1923 – 12 December 2003) was a Soviet and Azerbaijani politician who served as the third president of Azer ...

rose to power in Azerbaijan, the Talysh-Mughan Autonomous Republic, which failed to gain any significant public support, was swiftly suppressed. Alikram Hummatov had to flee

, when an estimated 10,000 protesters gathered outside his headquarters in the city to demand his ouster.The New York Times, 24.08.1993. Pro-Iranian is ousted
/ref> According to Professor

Bruce Parrott The English language name Bruce arrived in Scotland with the Normans, from the place name Brix, Manche in Normandy, France, meaning "the willowlands". Initially promulgated via the descendants of king Robert the Bruce (1274−1329), it has been ...

, Some observers believe that this revolt was part of a larger conspiracy to bring back to power the former president Ayaz Mütallibov. Hummatov was arrested and initially received death sentence which was subsequently commuted to life imprisonment. In 2004, he was pardoned and released from custody under pressure from the Council of Europe. He was allowed to immigrate to Europe after making a public promise not to engage in politics. However, those who were involved in proclamation of the autonomy say they always envisaged the autonomous republic as a constituent part of Azerbaijan.

Ethnic status

According to some, the Azerbaijani government has also implemented a policy of forceful integration of some minorities, including Talysh, Tat,

Kurds ug:كۇردلار Kurds ( ku, کورد ,Kurd, italic=yes, rtl=yes) or Kurdish people are an Iranian peoples, Iranian ethnic group native to the mountainous region of Kurdistan in Western Asia, which spans southeastern Turkey, northwestern Ir ...

and Lezgins. However, according to a 2004 resolution of

Council of Europe The Council of Europe (CoE; french: Conseil de l'Europe, ) is an international organisation founded in the wake of World War II to uphold human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe. Founded in 1949, it has 46 member states, with a p ...

: The above quote by the Council of Europe was only in reference to the improvements done by the government of Azerbaijan since 2003. The Communique, however, goes on to say: IFPRERLOM appealed to the Commission on Human Rights for the purpose of adopting a resolution, which urges Azerbaijan to guarantee the preservation of the cultural, religious and national identity of the Talysh people in light of repeated claims of repression.

References

{{reflist

External links

Flags of the World
History of Talysh 1993 establishments in Asia 1993 disestablishments in Asia States and territories established in 1993 States and territories disestablished in 1993 1993 in Azerbaijan Separatism in Azerbaijan

Political turmoil

Ethnic status

See also

References

External links