World Day of Solidarity with Azerbaijanis

World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day is observed annually on 31 December and symbolizes 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 representing Azerbaijani national unity and is regarded as an element of national identity policies implemented after independence.

The origins of the day trace back to political developments in the late Soviet Union during the twentieth 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 and separatist activities concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh region. These events resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis and brought the need for national solidarity to the forefront. ^【1】 31 December has taken on historical significance as a symbol 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 diaspora’s formation, leading to the dispersal of Azerbaijanis across various regions of the world.

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 the Day of National Solidarity and Unity. Shortly thereafter, the National Council of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Azerbaijan confirmed this date as Day of Azerbaijanis’ Solidarity. These steps were undertaken under the leadership of Heydar Aliyev.

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. ^【2】 In the post-independence state-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.

Solidarity policies have been supported by institutional structures. The First World Congress of Azerbaijanis was held in Baku in 2001, followed by the Second (2006), Third (2011), and Fourth (2016) Congresses. These gatherings addressed diaspora organization, the preservation of language and spiritual values, and the development of state-diaspora relations. ^【3】 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.

Azerbaijan’s post-1991 identity policies encompassed a rapid state-building process inspired by the experience of the Azerbaijan People’s Republic (1918–1920). 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, as part of the national holidays and rituals, serves as an instrument supporting diaspora belonging and positions Azerbaijan as the shared spiritual homeland for Azerbaijanis worldwide.