Thanks to the favourable historical condition established after collapsing of the Soviet Union in the late 20th century Azerbaijan people gained its independence in the 20th century for the second time. It was the second prominent achievement in the political history of our people.
Thanks to the activity of the democratic powers in Russia it was impossible to suppress non-subordination to the central power and wish independence in the republic. At the out of order meeting called under the will of the people on the 30th of June in 1991, the Supreme Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan adopted a declaration about the restoration of the state independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
At the session of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the 18th of October, 1991, adopted Constitutional Act 'About the State Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan'.
The referendum was held in the Republic of Azerbaijan on December 29th. The bulletin of the referendum reflected a question: 'Do you support the Constitutional Act 'About the State Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan' adopted by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan?'
Azerbaijan people unanimously supported state independence.
In May 1992 Milli Mejlis adopted the State hymn (music by Uzeyir Hajibeyov, words by Ahmed Javad) of the Republic of Azerbaijan and soon after it, three coloured flags and the state anthem in the form of an 8-point star with fire in the centre of it
Azerbaijan is an independent and sovereign state since October 18, 1991, which we celebrated as a holiday.
Note: since 2006, when a public holiday falls on a day off, the next business day is considered non-working.