Talysh-Mughan Autonomous Republic
Encyclopedia
The Talysh-Mughan Autonomous Republic ' onMouseout='HidePop("69010")' href="/topics/Talysh_language">Talysh
Talysh language
The Talyshi language is a Northwestern Iranian language spoken in the northern regions of the Iranian provinces of Gilan and Ardabil and the southern regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Historically, the language and its people can be traced through the middle Iranian period back to the ancient...

: Toлъш-Mоғонә Mоxтaрә Рeспубликә) was a short-lived self-proclaimed autonomous republic in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...

, that lasted from June to August 1993. It was located in extreme southeastern Azerbaijan, envisaging to consist in the 7 administrative districts of Azerbaijan around the regional capital city Lankaran: Lankaran
Lankaran
-History:The city was built on a swamp along the northern bank of the river bearing the city's name. There are remains of human settlements in the area dating back to the Neolithic period as well as ruins of fortified villages from the Bronze and Iron Ages. Lankaran's history is rather recent,...

, Lankaran rayon
Lankaran (rayon)
Lankaran is a rayon of Azerbaijan. It surrounds but does not include the city of Lankaran, which is technically a separate administrative region.- History :...

, Lerik, Astara
Astara (rayon)
Astara is the southernmost rayon in southeastern Azerbaijan.-General information:Astara Rayon was established in 1930. In 1963, it was abolished as rayon and its territory incorporated into Lankaran Rayon and in 1965, its administrative rayon status was restored. Overall area of the rayon is . Its...

, Masally
Masally
Masally is the administrative area in the south of Azerbaijan-Geography:This territory borders on Lankaran, Lerik, Yardimli, Jalilabad, Neftchala districts. In the east, the district is washed by the Caspian Sea, and in the west it approaches Talish mountains, Burovar ridge. Height of the...

, Yardymli
Yardymli
Yardymli is a rayon of Azerbaijan....

. Historically the area had been a khanate
Talysh Khanate
The Talysh Khanate was one of many self-ruling principalities that existed on the territory of modern Azerbaijan Republic between 1747 and 1813, which was Safavi territory at that time...

.

TMAR should not be confused with Mughan Soviet Republic
Mughan Soviet Republic
The Mughan Soviet Republic was a short-lived pro-Bolshevik state that existed in present-day southeastern Azerbaijan from March to June 1919. It was founded in opposition to the Musavatist Azerbaijani Government in Baku.-See also:...

, a Bolshevik state, that existed in March-June 1919 in opposition to Musavatist Azerbaijani Government in Baku (see Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was the first successful attempt to establish a democratic and secular republic in the Muslim world . The ADR was founded on May 28, 1918 after the collapse of the Russian Empire that began with the Russian Revolution of 1917 by Azerbaijani National Council in...

).

Political turmoil

The autonomous republic was proclaimed amid political turmoil in Azerbaijan, with the tacit support from Russia. In June 1993 a military rebellion against president Abulfaz Elchibey broke out under the leadership of Colonel Surat Huseynov
Surat Huseynov
Surat or Suret Davud oglu Huseynov |Ganja]]) is an Azerbaijani colonel and ex-Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, who rose to prominence during the Nagorno-Karabakh War...

. Colonel Alikram Hummatov
Alikram Hummatov
Alikram Hummatov or Ali Akram Hemmatzadeh is a Talysh military and political activist of Azerbaijan, the president of self-proclaimed Talysh-Mughan Autonomous Republic in 1993, formerly prisoned in Azerbaijan...

 (Alikram Gumbatov), a close associate of Huseynov, and the leader of the Talysh nationalists, seized power in the southern part of Azerbaijan and proclaimed the new republic in Lankaran, escalating violence. However, as the situation settled and Heydar Aliyev
Heydar Aliyev
Heydar Alirza oglu Aliyev , also spelled as Heidar Aliev, Geidar Aliev, Haydar Aliyev, Geydar Aliyev was the third President of Azerbaijan for the New Azerbaijan Party from June 1993 to October 2003, when his son Ilham Aliyev succeeded him.From 1969 till 1982, Aliyev was also the leader of Soviet...

 rose to power in Azerbaijan, the Talysh-Mughan Autonomous Republic, which failed to gain any significant public support, was swiftly suppressed.

Alikram Hummatov had to flee Lenkoran, when an estimated 10,000 protesters gathered outside his headquarters in the city to demand his ouster.

According to professor Bruce Parrott,
Some observers believe that this revolt was part of a larger conspiracy to bring back to power the former president Ayaz Mütallibov
Ayaz Mütallibov
Ayaz Niyazi oğlu Mütallibov was the last leader of Soviet Azerbaijan, and the first President of independent Azerbaijan from October 1991 till May 1992.-Biography:...

.

Hummatov was arrested and initially received death sentence which was subsequently commuted to life imprisonment. In 2004 he was pardoned and released from custody under pressure from the Council of Europe. He was allowed to immigrate to Europe after making a public promise not to engage in politics. However, those who were involved in proclamation of the autonomy say they always envisaged the autonomous republic as a constituent part of Azerbaijan.

Ethnic status

According to some, the Azerbaijani government has also implemented a policy of forceful integration of some minorities, including Talysh
Talysh
Talysh may refer to:*Talysh people*Talysh language*Talysh Khanate*Talysh-Mughan Autonomous Republic - a self-declared autonomy, which existed briefly in the south of Azerbaijan in 1993*Talysh Mountains*Talış, Agsu, Azerbaijan*Talış, Hajigabul, Azerbaijan...

, Tat
Tats
Tats are an Iranian people, presently living within Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia ....

, Kurds and Lezgins
Lezgins
The Lezgians are an ethnic group living predominantly in southern Dagestan and northeastern Azerbaijan and who speak the Lezgian language.- Historical concept :While ancient Greek historians, including Herodotus, Strabo, and Pliny the Elder, referred...

. However according to a 2004 resolution of Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...

:
IFPRERLOM appealed to the Commission on Human Rights for the purpose of adopting a resolution, which urges Azerbaijan to guarantee the preservation of the cultural, religious and national identity of the Talysh people in light of repeated claims of repression.
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