1991 Azerbaijani independence referendum facts for kids
| Do you support the Constitutional Act on the state independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan as passed by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan? | |||||||||||||||||||
| Date | 29 December 1991 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Yes
NoOn December 29, 1991, the country of Azerbaijan held a special vote called an independence referendum. This vote happened just three days after the Soviet Union officially broke apart. People in Azerbaijan voted to decide if their country should become fully independent.
The results showed that almost everyone, 99.8% of voters, wanted Azerbaijan to be an independent country. A very high number of people, 95.3%, came out to vote.
Contents
What Was the Soviet Union?
For many years, Azerbaijan was part of a very large country called the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union was made up of many different republics, like states in a big country. It was led by a central government in Moscow, Russia.
However, by the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Soviet Union started to face many problems. People in different republics wanted more freedom and control over their own lives. They also wanted to manage their own countries.
Why Did Azerbaijan Vote for Independence?
As the Soviet Union became weaker, many of its republics decided they wanted to become independent nations. They wanted to govern themselves and make their own rules. Azerbaijan was one of these republics.
The people of Azerbaijan wanted to create their own future. They wanted to have their own government, laws, and economy. This desire for self-rule led to the idea of holding a special vote.
The Independence Vote
The vote on December 29, 1991, was very important for Azerbaijan. People were asked a clear question: "Do you support the Constitutional Act on the state independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan?" This act was a special law passed by Azerbaijan's parliament. It said that Azerbaijan would be a free and independent country.
Millions of people in Azerbaijan went to the voting places. They cast their ballots to show if they agreed with the idea of independence or not.
Results of the Vote
The results of the referendum showed strong support for independence.
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| For independence | 3,735,398 | 99.8 |
| Against independence | 9,068 | 0.2 |
| Invalid or blank votes | 6,708 | – |
| Total votes | 3,751,174 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,751,174 | 95.3 |
Almost 3.7 million people voted "yes" for independence. Only a small number, about 9,000 people, voted "no." This overwhelming support meant that Azerbaijan could officially declare itself an independent nation.
What Happened Next?
After the vote, Azerbaijan became a fully independent country. It was no longer part of the Soviet Union. This was a huge moment in Azerbaijan's history. It marked the beginning of a new era for the nation, where it could make its own decisions on the world stage.
See also
In Spanish: Referéndum de independencia de Azerbaiy%C3%A1n de 1991 para niños
