According to the constitution, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is considered an independent state within Azerbaijan, from the main territory of which it is separated by the occupied territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and the territory of Armenia.
Ancient history of the region
People have been living in the Transcaucasus since ancient times, which means that Nakhichevan has a rich history. The first mention of this region appears in Ptolemy in a story about the city of Naxuana, known today under the name Nakhichevan and which is the capital of the autonomous republic.
For many generations, the life of the region has been inextricably linked with the biblical story of Noah and his ark.
The German philological tradition elevates the name of the city to the ancient Armenian prefix "nah" and the word "Ijevan", which translates as "place of landing." For many centuries, locals have shown travelers the remnants of Noah's ark. And although the existence of the ark does not find material evidence, the antiquity of the city is considered proven. According to archaeological data and on the basis of philological sources, it can be assumed that the history of the city of Nakhichevan totals about three and a half millennia.
The territory on which the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is located was under the rule of many states, among which were Urartu, the Empire of Alexander the Great and the Achaemenid Empire. Also on this territory there were several Armenian states, such as the country of Tigran the Great and the Ani kingdom. Even the Mongols reached these places and left behind the incredible destruction documented by Europeans, among whom was the papal ambassador Rubruk, a Franciscan monk who, at the insistence of King Louis lX, visited the Mongol empire.
Azerbaijan: Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic
When Nakhichevan and the surrounding lands came under the control of the Russian Empire, an active migration of Armenian families began, which, it seemed to them, were returning to their historical homeland after their forcible resettlement in central Persia on the initiative of Shah Abbas l, who conquered the country in the XVll century.
For the first time, increasing tension became known from the words of Griboedov, who visited Nakhichevan on the way to Persia. Since then, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, whose population today consists of Azerbaijanis, has gone through many difficult years of conflict on religious and ethnic grounds.
Current state of affairs
The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, whose national composition has changed over several centuries, has come to the end of the twentieth century with disappointing results. Ethnic diversity has always been a hallmark of these parts, but as a result of numerous conflicts that shook the region with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the composition of the population changed beyond recognition and representatives of almost all the nationalities living in the republic left it. By 2009, more than 99% of the population were Azerbaijanis and 0.3% Kurds, who traditionally lived in Transcaucasia.
The Azerbaijani authorities are doing their best to erase the memory of the Armenian presence in this republic, not stopping even before the physical destruction of the architectural monuments of Armenian culture. One of the most striking examples is the destruction of the Armenian cemetery in Julfa, which was destroyed, despite protests from the international community and UNESCO.
Administrative division and self-government
The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is part of Azerbaijan as a self-governing territory, the status of which is determined by the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
From the point of view of administration, the autonomous republic consists of seven districts and one city - the capital of Nakhchivan. In addition to historical, the autonomy of the republic is also found in geographical isolation.
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic became the scene of the struggle between Azerbaijan and Armenia in 1992, when Armenian forces fired at the Azerbaijani military. The situation was so acute then that Turkey had to open artillery fire on the Armenian troops in order to prevent the capture of Nakhichevan by the Armenian army, at the same time, Iran began military exercises near the border with the Nakhichevan Republic in order to warn Armenia about the undesirability of a new attack.
The Russian peacekeepers kept the region from a big war and Heydar Aliyev’s desire to strengthen his political power through the conclusion of peace with Armenia.
Economic problems and development prospects
Due to numerous ethnic conflicts, the Transcaucasian region is an almost impassable through territory, divided by closed borders. This state of affairs cannot but affect the economic life of countries. The Nakhchivan Republic is experiencing a protracted economic crisis caused by the energy and economic blockade by Armenia, which, in turn, is being blocked by Turkey and Azerbaijan.
The situation, however, is mitigated by the fact that Iran, which is rightfully considered one of the most powerful states in the region, takes a neutral position in numerous disputes. This allows him to provide economic and humanitarian assistance to both Armenia and the Nakhchivan Republic.
The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic has managed to maintain its autonomy thanks to active shuttle trade with neighboring Turkey.