THE ESTABLISHMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF STATE ARCHIVES IN THE NAKHCHIVAN AUTONOMOUS REPUBLIC

Abstract

The article examines the establishment, historical development, organizational structure, and legal foundations of the state archival system in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Particular attention is paid to the preservation, systematization, and transmission of archival documents to future generations within the complex historical and political circumstances of Nakhchivan. Based on historical facts and documentary materials, the study explores the establishment of the Central State Archive of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic in 1925, subsequent institutional transformations, and the organization of district state archives. The article emphasizes that the restoration of Azerbaijan's state independence marked a new stage in archival development. In particular, the adoption of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On the National Archival Fund” in 1999 and the relevant presidential decree issued in 2002 played significant roles in strengthening the legal and organizational foundations of archival administration. Special attention is devoted to Heydar Aliyev's contributions to the formation and development of the national archival system. Furthermore, the study highlights the historical, scientific, and cultural significance of archival documents, personal collections, manuscripts, photographs, and film materials preserved in the State Archive of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. These archival holdings are presented as essential primary sources for investigating the region's socio-political, economic, and cultural history, as well as the lives and activities of prominent historical and cultural figures. The article concludes that state archives serve not only as institutions responsible for preserving historical documents but also as important scientific and cultural centers contributing to the protection of national memory, the reconstruction of historical realities, and the advancement of scholarly research.