World Azerbaijanis' Solidarity Day

World Azerbaijanis’ Solidarity Day is observed annually on 31 December as a day representing the unity of Azerbaijanis living worldwide. It holds the status of an official holiday in the Republic of Azerbaijan and is commemorated through various events by diaspora communities. The day functions as a ritual symbolizing Azerbaijani national unity and is regarded as an element of national identity policies implemented after independence. ^【1】

Historical Origins

The origins of the day trace back to the political processes in the late Soviet Union during the final decades of the 20th century. In the late 1980s, the national revival movement in Azerbaijan expanded into mass protests (the 1988 Square Movement) in response to Armenia’s claims over the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its separatist activities. These developments resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis and brought the need for national solidarity to the forefront. ^【2】 31 December has taken on symbolic significance as a historical marker of unity in the context of these events. Additionally, the division of Azerbaijani territories into northern and southern parts under the 1828 Treaty of Turkmenchay established the historical foundation for the formation of the diaspora, leading to the dispersal of Azerbaijanis across various regions of the world.

Official Establishment

The day gained official status in 1991. On 16 December 1991, the Supreme Council of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic adopted a resolution declaring 31 December as National Solidarity and Unity Day. Shortly thereafter, the National Council of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Azerbaijan also endorsed this date as Azerbaijanis’ Solidarity Day. These steps were undertaken under the leadership of Heydar Aliyev.

Purpose and Ideological Framework

The day aims to strengthen ties between the diaspora and the homeland, and to preserve national-spiritual values and traditions. It is grounded in the ideology of Azerbaijani identity and seeks to reinforce the national belonging of over 50 million Azerbaijanis living in more than 70 countries worldwide. ^【3】 Within the post-independence nation-building process, it emerged as part of strategies developed in opposition to Soviet-era identity policies; the diaspora is defined as having a single national-spiritual center in the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Institutional and Organizational Developments

Solidarity policies have been supported by institutional structures. The First World Congress of Azerbaijanis was held in Baku in 2001, followed by the Second Congress in 2006, the Third in 2011, and the Fourth in 2016. These gatherings addressed diaspora organization, the preservation of language and spiritual values, and the enhancement of state-diaspora relations. ^【4】 The State Committee for Work with Azerbaijanis Living Abroad, established in 2002, has assumed responsibility for coordinating the diaspora and ensuring political and ideological unity.

Evaluation within the Context of National Identity Policies

Azerbaijan’s post-1991 identity policies involved a rapid nation-building process inspired by the experience of the 1918–1920 Azerbaijan People’s Republic. In opposition to the Soviet Union’s efforts to create a “Soviet person,” national identity was strengthened through social, political and cultural instruments. Solidarity Day occupies a place among national holidays and rituals, serving as an instrument that supports diaspora belonging and positions Azerbaijan as the shared spiritual homeland for Azerbaijanis worldwide.