Although the struggle for state independence in Azerbaijan began with a popular movement in 1988, the decisive processes in this direction took a new turn with the return of National Leader Heydar Aliyev to Azerbaijan. Since then, the process of national revival became a leading force in the entire political environment of Azerbaijan and was accompanied by decisive steps towards the restoration of national statehood. The participation and victory of the National Leader in the parliamentary elections in Nakhchivan, the sending to Nakhchivan of leading representatives of  republican community eager to establish contact with Heydar Aliyev and the numerous and massive meetings had a positive effect on the increasingly organised national liberation movement in Azerbaijan.

The session of the Supreme Council of Nakhchivan held on November 17, 1990 under the chairmanship of Heydar Aliyev was marked in our history with the discussion of many issues related to the process of revival of the Azerbaijani statehood, adoption of historic decisions on the way to the independence of Azerbaijan.
On 17 November 1990, the first session of the Nakhchivan Supreme Council was held under the chairmanship of Heydar Aliyev. The session adopted a decision on renaming the Nakhchivan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic into the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. On the suggestion of Heydar Aliyev, the words “Soviet socialist” were excluded from this name. Also was made a decision to restore the three coloured state flag of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and to accept it as state flag of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. In this decision the supreme legislative body of the Republic of Azerbaijan was offered to consider the issue on the state symbols of Azerbaijan in accordance with the national historical traditions of our republic, adopt new state symbols – flag, emblem and anthem.

The democratic measures implemented in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic have become an example for all Azerbaijan. On demand of the democratic forces, the session of the Supreme Council of the Azerbaijan SSR adopted a number of historic decisions on February 5, 1991. The name of the state was changed to “Republic of Azerbaijan”. The flag of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan was approved as the State flag.

Recommended literature:

1. Heydər Əliyev və Azərbaycan parlamenti / məsul red. M. Ələsgərov ; tərt.: A. Babayev, H. Babayev. - Bakı : Milli Məclisin nəşri, 2003. - 543,[24] s.
2. Cabbarlı, Ələkbər Həsən oğlu. Heydər Əliyev və Naxçıvan tarixi məsələləri : monoqrafiya / Ə. H. Cabbarlı ; elmi red. E. Y. Cəfərli. - Naxçıvan : Əcəmi NPB, 2015. - 232 s.
3. Qayıdış: 1990-1993 : toplu / bur. məsul V. Y. Talıbov ; tərt. Ə. M. Həsənov. - Təkmilləşmiş və yenidən işlənmiş II nəşri. - Bakı : Azərbaycan nəşriyyatı, 2008. - 840 s.
4. Azərbaycan tarixi. Yeddi cilddə. VII cild (1941-2002-ci illər). Bakı. "Elm". 2008. 608 səh.