Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic

The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (Azerbaijani: Naxçıvan Muxtar Respublikası, az) is a landlocked exclave of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The region covers 5,502.75 km² (2,124.62 sq mi)^[2] with a population of 459,600^[3] bordering Armenia (border 221 km [137 mi]) to the east and north, Iran (border 179 km [111 mi]) to the south and west, and Turkey (border 8 km [5.0 mi]) to the northwest.

Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Naxçıvan Muxtar Respublikası  (Azerbaijani)
Official Flag Coat of arms
Anthem:  Azərbaycan marşı "March of Azerbaijan"
Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic within Azerbaijan
Capital	Nakhchivan
Official languages	Azerbaijani
Demonym(s)	Nakhchivani
Government
• Parliamentary chairman	Vasif Talibov
• Prime Minister	Alovsat Bakhshiyev
Legislature	Supreme Assembly
Autonomy
• Establishment of the Nakhchivan ASSR	February 9, 1924
• Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic	November 17, 1990
Area
• Total	5,502 km2 (2,124 sq mi)
• Water (%)	negligible
Population
• 2020 census	459,600
• Density	84/km2 (217.6/sq mi)
HDI (2014)	0.772[1] high
Currency	Azerbaijan manat (AZN)
Time zone	UTC+4 (AZT)
Calling code	+994 36
ISO 3166 code	AZ

Name

"Nakhchivan" is believed to have Persian origins, with "Nakhjavan" meaning "place of descent" or "landing." The name could be associated with geographical features or historical events in the region.^[4]

History

Nakhchivan has a rich history dating back to ancient times. It was part of various empires, including the Persian and Ottoman. In the 20th century, it became an autonomous republic within the Soviet Union. Today, it's an integral part of Azerbaijan, maintaining its unique cultural and historical significance.^[5]

Districts

Subdivisions of Nakhchivan.

Nakhchivan has eight administrative divisions. Seven of these are districts, while the capital city is separate.

Map ref.	Administrative division	Capital	Type	Area (km²)	Population (1 August 2011 estimate)[6]	Notes
1	Babek (Babək)	Babek	Rayon	749,81[6]	66,2[6]	Formerly known as Nakhchivan; renamed after Babak Khorramdin in 1991
2	Julfa (Culfa)	Julfa	Rayon	1012,75[6]	43,000[6]	Also spelled Jugha or Dzhulfa.
3	Kangarli (Kəngərli)	Givraq	Rayon	711,86[6]	28,900[6]	Split from Babek in March 2004
4	Nakhchivan City (Naxçıvan Şəhər)		Municipality	191,82[6]	85,700[6]	Split from Nakhchivan (Babek) in 1991
5	Ordubad	Ordubad	Rayon	994,88[6]	46,500[6]	Split from Julfa during Sovietization[7]
6	Sadarak (Sədərək)	Heydarabad	Rayon	153,49[6]	14,500[6]	Split from Sharur in 1990; de jure includes the Karki exclave in Armenia, which is de facto under Armenian control
7	Shakhbuz (Şahbuz)	Shahbuz	Rayon	838,04[6]	23,400[6]	Split from Nakhchivan (Babek) during Sovietization[7] Territory roughly corresponds to the Čahuk (Չահւք) district of the historic Syunik region within the Kingdom of Armenia[8]
8	Sharur (Şərur)	Sharur	Rayon	847,35[6]	106,600[6]	Formerly known as Bash-Norashen during its incorporation into the Soviet Union and Ilyich (after Vladimir Ilyich Lenin) from the post-Sovietization period to 1990[7]
	Total			5,500[6]	414,900[6]

Famous people from Nakhchivan

Political leaders

• Heydar Aliyev, former President of Azerbaijan (1993–2003) and father of the current President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev (2003–present).
• Abulfaz Elchibey, former President of Azerbaijan (1992–1993)
• Rasul Guliyev, former speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan (1993–1996) and opposition leader
• Christapor Mikaelian, founding member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
• Stepan Sapah-Gulian, leader of the Armenian Social Democrat Hunchakian Party (19th-20th century)
• Jafar Kuli Khan Nakhchivanski, the founder of the short-lived Republic of Aras
• Ibrahim Abilov, first and only ambassador of Azerbaijan SSR to Turkey
• Garegin Nzhdeh, famous Armenian revolutionary, military leader and political thinker

Religious leaders

• Alexander Jughaetsi (Alexander I of Jugha), Catholicos of All Armenians (1706–1714)
• Hakob Jughaetsi (Jacob IV of Jugha), Armenian Catholicos (1655–1680)
• Azaria I Jughaetsi, Armenian Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia (1584–1601)

Military leaders

• Abdurahman Fatalibeyli, Soviet army major who defected to the German forces during World War II
• Ehsan Khan Nakhchivanski, Russian military general
• Huseyn Khan Nakhchivanski, Russian cavalry general and the only Muslim to serve as General-Adjutant of the Russian Tsar
• Ismail Khan Nakhchivanski, Russian military general
• Kelbali Khan Nakhchivanski, Russian military general
• Jamshid Khan Nakhchivanski, Soviet and Azerbaijani military general

Writers and poets

• M.S. Gulubekov, writer
• Huseyn Javid, poet
• Jalil Mammadguluzadeh, writer and satirist
• Ekmouladdin Nakhchivani, medieval literary figure
• Hindushah Nakhchivani, medieval literary figure
• Abdurrakhman en-Neshevi, medieval literary figure
• Mammed Said Ordubadi, writer
• Heyran Khanum, late medieval poet
• Elşen Hudiyev, contemporary poet and writer
• Mammad Araz, poet

Others

• Vladimir Makogonov, chess International Master and Grandmaster
• Ajami Nakhchivani, architect and founder of the Nakhchivan school of architecture
• Gaik Ovakimian, Soviet Armenian spy
• Ibrahim Safi, Turkish artist
• Rza Tahmasib, Azerbaijani film director

Related pages

• Administrative divisions of Azerbaijan
• Economic regions of Azerbaijan
• Nakhchivan (city)