Law on Abolishment of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast

Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast in Soviet era.

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.^[1]

History

The Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO) was created as an autonomous oblast by carving out the mountainous 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 (Mountainous) was affixed to the Turco-Persian name Karabagh (Black Garden) and the name of the oblast was officially changed to Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast in 1937.^[2] 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 theoretically bringing the territory under direct control of Azerbaijan.^[3][4][5]

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 nationalists 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 renamed to their respective Azeri names. Stepanakert was named back to Khankendi, Mardakert to Aghdara, Mardakert District to Aghdara District, Martuni to Khojavend, Martuni District to Khojavend District. Askeran District and Hadrut District were abolished. Khojali District was established with the administrative center in Khojaly and the abolished Askeran District was incorporated into it. The abolished Hadrut District was incorporated into Khojavend District.^[1]

See also

• List of United Nations Security Council resolutions on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

References

1. "Azərbaycan Respublikasının Dağlıq Qarabağ Muxtar Vilayətini ləğv etmək haqqında AZƏRBAYCAN RESPUBLİKASININ QANUNU" [Law of Azerbaijan Republic on Abolishment of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast of Azerbaijan Republic]. Retrieved 2011-08-30.
2. Altstadt, Audrey (1992). The Azerbaijani Turks: power and identity under Russian rule. United Kingdom: Hoover Press. pp. 126–127. ISBN 0-8179-9182-4. Retrieved 2011-08-30.
3. Roeder, Philip G. (2007). Where nation-states come from: institutional change in the age of nationalism. United Kingdom: Princeton University Press. p. 51. ISBN 0-691-13467-7. Retrieved 2011-08-30.
4. Anvar Ahmad (2011-07-30). "İnamın işığı" [Ray of hope]. Adalet. Retrieved 2011-08-30.
5. "Xocavənd Rayon Kitabxanası" [Regional Library of Khojavend]. Retrieved 2011-08-30.