Political Instability in Azerbaijan During the War

The military conflict unfolded alongside major political upheaval in Azerbaijan.

Ayaz Mutallibov, Azerbaijan's first president after independence, lost power amid criticism of the government's military failures and its handling of the Khojaly tragedy.

In June 1992, Abulfaz Elchibey, leader of the Azerbaijani Popular Front, was elected president.

Elchibey's government pursued a strongly nationalist political program and sought closer relations with Turkey and Western countries.

However, the government faced enormous difficulties in establishing effective control over the armed forces and state institutions.

The 1993 political crisis

In June 1993, a military and political rebellion led by Surat Huseynov contributed to Elchibey's loss of effective power.

Heydar Aliyev, a former senior Soviet official and political leader of Nakhichevan, returned to national leadership.

He became chairman of Azerbaijan's parliament and subsequently president in October 1993.

The political crisis coincided with major Armenian military advances.

The struggle for power in Baku undermined the ability of Azerbaijan's military leadership to maintain coherent operations.

Rivalries among political and military factions complicated mobilization, logistics, and command.

Nevertheless, political instability alone cannot explain Azerbaijan's defeats. Armenian military organization, territorial advantages, Azerbaijani strategic errors, and the wider circumstances of the post-Soviet transition also played important roles.