The end of the 80s, the beginning of the 90s of the XX century in all of Azerbaijan, including Nakhchivan, is characterized as the most difficult period of socio-political events.

 The policy of the leadership of the Soviet empire during this period was contrary to the interests of Azerbaijan. The territorial claims of Armenians to Nakhchivan and military clashes on the border had a serious impact on the life of the Autonomous Republic.

Azerbaijan, including Nakhchivan, needed a leader with political experience and diplomatic skills to complete the people's struggle for independence with victory. Heydar Aliyev, a prominent statesman of Azerbaijan, became such a leader.

Returning on July 20, 1990 from Moscow to Baku, Heydar Aliyev went to Nakhchivan two days later. In the September 30, 1990 elections, Heydar Aliyev was elected as a deputy from Nakhchivan to the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan SSR and the Supreme Soviet of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

On November 17, 1990, under the chairmanship of Heydar Aliyev, the 1st session of the Supreme Council of the Nakhchivan ASSR of the 12th convocation began its work. According to the decisions of the session, the words "Soviet socialist" were removed from the name of the autonomous republic, and the words "Supreme Council" were replaced by the words "Supreme Majlis". The tricolor flag of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was adopted as the State Flag of Nakhchivan.

At the same time, it was decided to apply to the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan SSR for the establishment of a tricolor state flag as the state symbol of the Azerbaijan SSR as a whole. On November 21, 1990, the Supreme Majlis of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic adopted a resolution prepared by Heydar Aliyev "On giving a political assessment of the events that took place in Baku in January 1990."

On December 14, 1990, the Supreme Majlis of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic adopted a resolution prepared by deputy Heydar Aliyev "On attitude towards the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region of the Azerbaijan SSR, in the Shahumyan region and in the village of Chaikend of the Khanlar region."

On September 7, 1991, the Supreme Majlis decided to establish the State Defense Committee of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Historical decisions taken in later periods were to ensure the 100% preservation of military equipment and weapons of the Soviet troops stationed in Nakhchivan in the autonomous republic. As a result of the high level of organization of the population, devotion to the country and boundless faith in the great leader, the defense potential of Nakhchivan was strengthened, and it was in Nakhchivan that the foundation of today's mighty Azerbaijani army was laid. It should be noted that on October 9, 1992, the first military parade was held in Nakhchivan.

On December 16, 1991, at the initiative of Heydar Aliyev and by the decision of the Supreme Majlis of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, December 31 was declared the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis. Then the Supreme Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan decided to officially hold this holiday throughout the country.

The national leader Heydar Aliyev, being the chairman of the Supreme Majlis of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, took important steps in the field of establishing foreign economic relations. In 1992 he made visits to the Republic of Turkey and the Islamic Republic of Iran. At the meetings, protocols on cooperation in the economic sphere were signed, and relations were established with both states in the economic, cultural, educational and other spheres. On February 5, 1993, the consulates of the Republic of Turkey began to operate in Nakhchivan, and on March 8, the consulates of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In the period from 1991 to 1993, during the leadership of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, national leader Heydar Aliyev managed to put the republic on the path of development.

The election of Heydar Aliyev as Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic coincided with a difficult period in Azerbaijan. It was the personality and abilities of Heydar Aliyev that protected Nakhchivan from disasters.

The election on September 3, 1991 of the national leader Heydar Aliyev as the Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of the NAR  ( Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic)  is a historic event not only for Nakhchivan, but also for the formation of independent Azerbaijani statehood as a whole.

Recommended literature:

1. Qasımov, Ədalət Qasım oğlu. Heydər Əliyev və Naxçıvan Muxtar Respublikasının inkisaf tarixi: 1969-2003-cü illər: monoqrafiya / Ə. Q. Qasımov; layihənin rəh., ön sözün müəl., elmi red. Y. M. Mahmudov; AMEA A.A. Bakıxanov adına Tarix İnstitutu.-Bakı: Turxan NPB, 2013.-264 s
2. Hacıyev, İsmayıl Muxtar oğlu. Heydər Əliyev siyasəti: tarixdə və günümüzdə: monoqrafiya / İ. M. Hacıyev; red. Ə. Q. Qasımov.- Naxçıvan: Əcəmi NPB, 2013.- 296 s.
3. Ömrün üç günü: Naxçıvan: 29-31 oktyabr 1996-cı il.- Türkiyə: ERGÜN, 1997.- 91 s
4. Axundova, Elmira Hüseyn qızı. Heydər Əliyev: şəxsiyyət və zaman / E. H. Axundova. V hissə: 1990-1993: ömrün Naxçıvan aşırımları / rus dilindən tərc. O. Məmmədov; red. D. Vəkilova.- Bakı: CBS Polygraphic Production, 2013.- 736 s
5. 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.
6. Qasımov, Ramiz Asəf oğlu. Müstəqillik yollarında: liderlik missiyası / R. A. Qasımov, Z. H. İsmayıl; elmi red. İ. Hacıyev; AMEA Naxçıvan bölməsi.- Naxçıvan: Əcəmi NPB, 2016.- 216 s.
7. Hacıyev, İsmayıl Muxtar oğlu. Naxçıvan Muxtar Respublikası müstəqillik yollarında: monoqrafiya / İ. M. Hacıyev; elmi red. İ. Ə. Həbibbəyli.- Bakı: Elm və Təhsil, 2016.- 360 s.
8. Əliyev, Rauf Feyzulla oğlu. Əsrə bərabər illər / R. F. Əliyev; red. M. Məmmədoğlu.- Naxçıvan: Əcəmi NPB, 2021.- 496 s.
9. Qasımov, Ədalət Qasım oğlu. Heydər Əliyevin inkişaf strategiyası və Naxçıvan Muxtar Respublikası: XX əsrin 70-80-ci illəri: monoqrafiya / Ə. Q. Qasımov; elmi red. Y. M. Mahmudov; AMEA A.A. Bakıxanov adına Tarix İnstitutu.- Bakı: Təhsil, 2009.- 320 s.
10. Axundov, Əkbər Bilal oğlu. Xalqın azadlığı uğrunda mübarizə Heydər Əliyevin həyat amalı idi: Naxçıvan dövrü haqqında xatirələr / Ə. B. Axundov; red. Ə. Ə. Sayilov.- Bakı: Araz, 2010.- 208 s.
11. Hacıyev, İsmayıl Muxtar oğlu. Heydər Əliyev siyasəti: tarix və müasirlik: monoqrafiya / İ. M. Hacıyev; red. İ. Ə. Həbibbəyli; AMEA Naxçıvan bölməsi.- Təkmilləşmiş, əlavələr edilmiş II nəşr.- Bakı: Elm, 2023.- 336 s.