18.10.2026 15:42
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan shared a congratulatory message on the occasion of Azerbaijan’s Day of Restoration of Independence. Describing Azerbaijan as a “friend and brotherly” country, Erdoğan conveyed his greetings to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and the Azerbaijani people. Erdoğan said, "I convey my greetings to my brother Ilham Aliyev and to my Azerbaijani Turkic brothers, with whom we are always one in sorrow and joy."
President Erdoğan celebrated Azerbaijan's Independence Restoration Day on behalf of Turkey and the Turkish nation.
“I SEND MY GREETINGS TO MY BROTHER ILHAM ALIYEV”
In a post on the social media platform account of the US-based company X, Erdoğan said:
“I sincerely congratulate the friendly and brotherly Azerbaijan on Independence Restoration Day on behalf of my country and nation. I send my greetings to my brother, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, and to my Azerbaijani Turkish brothers, with whom we have always been united in sorrow and joy.”
IT REGAINED ITS INDEPENDENCE ON OCTOBER 18, 1991
During the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan adopted the “Constitutional Act on the State Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan” on October 18, 1991. The decision was approved by the votes of the vast majority of the people in the referendum held on December 29, 1991.
President Erdoğan's message is as follows:
"I sincerely congratulate the friendly and brotherly Azerbaijan on Independence Restoration Day on behalf of my country and nation.
I send my greetings to my brother, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, and to my Azerbaijani Turkish brothers, with whom we have always been united in sorrow and joy."
THE FIRST INDEPENDENCE WAS DECLARED IN 1918
Azerbaijan first declared its independence on May 28, 1918, by the decision of the National Council headed by Mehmet Emin Resulzade. After the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, which survived for about 2 years, the country came under Soviet rule. For this reason, October 18 is celebrated as the day when independence was “restored.”
TURKEY WAS THE FIRST COUNTRY TO RECOGNIZE IT
Turkey became the first state to take this step by officially recognizing Azerbaijan's independence on November 9, 1991.