According to the constitution, the Nakhichevan 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 territory of Transcaucasia since ancient times, which means that Nakhichevan has a rich history. The first mention of this region appears in Ptolemy's story about the city of Naksuana, known today under the name of Nakhichevan and being 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.
German philological tradition elevates the name of the city to the ancient Armenian prefix "nakh" and the word "Ijevan", which translates as "landing place". For many centuries, locals have shown travelers the remains of Noah's Ark. And although the existence of the ark finds no materialevidence, the antiquity of the city is considered proven. Based on archaeological data and philological sources, it can be assumed that the history of the city of Nakhichevan has about three and a half millennia.
The territory on which the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic is located was under the rule of many states, among which were Urartu, the Empire of Alexander the Great and the Achaemenid state. Also on this territory there were several Armenian states, such as the country of Tigran the Great and the Kingdom of Ani. Even the Mongols reached these places and left behind 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: Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic
When Nakhichevan and the surrounding lands came under the control of the Russian Empire, an active migration of Armenian families began to the region, who, as it seemed to them, were returning to their historical homeland after their forced resettlement in the central part of Persia on the initiative of Shah Abbas l, who conquered country in the 15th century.
For the first time, the growing tension became known from the words of Griboyedov, who visited Nakhichevan on his way to Persia. Since then, the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, whose population today consists of Azerbaijanis, has experienced many difficult years of conflicts on religious and ethnic grounds.
The current state of affairs
The Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, whose ethnic composition has changed over several centuries, came to the end of the twentieth century with disappointing results. Ethnic diversity has always been a hallmark of these regions, but as a result of the numerous conflicts that shook the region with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the composition of the population has changed beyond recognition and representatives of almost all nationalities living in the republic have left it. By 2009, more than 99% of the population were Azerbaijanis and 0.3% were Kurds, who traditionally lived in the Transcaucasus.
The Azerbaijani authorities are doing their best to erase the memory of the Armenian presence in this republic, not even stopping at the physical destruction of 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 Nakhichevan 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 Nakhchivan. In addition to historical ones, the autonomy of the republic also finds grounds in geographic isolation.
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
The Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic became the scene of struggle between Azerbaijan and Armenia in 1992, when Armenian forces fired on the Azerbaijani military. The situation was then so acute that Turkey had to open artillery fire on Armenian troops to prevent the capture of Nakhichevan by the Armenian army, at the same time, Iran began military exercises near the border with the Republic of Nakhichevan to warn Armenia about the undesirability of a new offensive.
The region was kept from a major war by Russian peacekeepers and Heydar Aliyev's desire to strengthen his political power through making peace with Armenia.
Economic problems and development prospects
Due to numerous ethnic conflicts, the Transcaucasian region is an almost impassable territory divided by closed borders. This state of affairs cannot but affect the economic life of countries. The Nakhichevan 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 Nakhichevan Republic.
The Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic managed to maintain its autonomy thanks toactive shuttle trade with neighboring Turkey.
