<P> The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic proclaimed its independence in 1918 and became the first democratic state in the Muslim - oriented world . The country was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1920 as the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic . The modern Republic of Azerbaijan proclaimed its independence on 30 August 1991 , prior to the official dissolution of the USSR in December 1991 . In September 1991 , the Armenian majority of the disputed Nagorno - Karabakh region seceded to form the Republic of Artsakh . The region and seven adjacent districts outside it became de facto independent with the end of the Nagorno - Karabakh War in 1994 . These regions are internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan pending a solution to the status of the Nagorno - Karabakh , found through negotiations facilitated by the OSCE . </P>
<P> The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic proclaimed its independence in 1918 and became the first democratic state in the Muslim - oriented world . The country was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1920 as the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic . The modern Republic of Azerbaijan proclaimed its independence on 30 August 1991 , prior to the official dissolution of the USSR in December 1991 . In September 1991 , the Armenian majority of the disputed Nagorno - Karabakh region seceded to form the Republic of Artsakh . The region and seven adjacent districts outside it became de facto independent with the end of the Nagorno - Karabakh War in 1994 . These regions are internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan pending a solution to the status of the Nagorno - Karabakh , found through negotiations facilitated by the OSCE . </P>
azerbaijan is divided into two political units by what country
azerbaijan is divided into two political units by what country
the Republic of Artsakh
the Republic of Artsakh