Rasuladze, Mamed Emin Molla Alekper Ogly

Azerbaijani politician and statesman, literature worker.

Born January 31, 1884, in the village of Novkhany, Baku Province. Received primary education first in "Russo-Muslim" school, then in Baku Technician School. His first literature work - Myukhammas - was published in Shargi-Rus newspaper (1903, No. 20). Participated in creating the first Transcaucasian Muslim social democratic organization Gummet (Energy) in 1904 under the auspices of the Baku RSDRP (Russian Socialist Democratic Workers' Party) Committee. In 1904-1907, participated in publishing social democratic newspapers. After the Revolution of 1905-1907, moved away from the social democratic movement. In 1909, departed for Persia, where was one of the initiators of creating a Democratic Party. After the suppression of the Persian Revolution of 1911, left for Turkey, where founded Tyurk Yurdu magazine.

In 1913, an amnesty was announced on the occasion of the tercentenary of the Romanov Dynasty rule, and it allowed Rasuladze to return to his homeland. Upon the return to Baku, Rasuladze joined Musavat created in 1911 and soon became one of its leaders. Since 1915, was the head of the editorial staff of Achyg Sez (Clear Word) newspaper, a de-facto printed organ of Musavat party. In the years of the WWI, supported the war till the victorious end and for the expansion of the rights and freedoms of the Azerbaijani nation.

After the February Revolution 1917, participated in the work of Caucasian Congress (April, Baku) and First All-Russian Muslim Congress (May, Moscow), which both adopted, at Rasuladze's initiative, a resolution on the necessity of a federal structure of Russia. In his literary and journalistic activities, Rasuladze propagated the same ideas. After the unification of Musavat party with the Turkic Federalist Party in June 1917, was elected the Chairman of the Central Committee at the First Congress of "Turkic Democratic Party Musavat" (October 26 thru 31, 1917, Baku). After the dispersal of the Constituent Assembly on January 6, 1918, was a supporter of creation of an independent Transcaucasian confederative state. Was a member of Transcaucasian Sejm (February 10 thru May 26, 1918). In Rasuladze's opinion, the Soviet Russia had neither legal nor moral right to agree for Turkey's annexation of a number of territories in the Caucasus during the conclusion of the Brest-Litovsk Peace Treaty.

After the dissolution of the Sejm, Rasuladze headed the Interim National Council of Azerbaijan (May 27 thru December 7, 1918). He was also one of the initiators of proclaiming independent Azerbaijani Democratic Republic (May 28, 1918).

After the Soviet power was established in Azerbaijan in spring 1920, M.E. Rasuladze was arrested by the Red Army soldiers in the settlement of Lagich but soon liberated - according to some data, helped by I.V. Stalin, who knew Rasuladze still before the Revolution - and directed to Moscow for working in the People's Commissariat of Nationalities of the RSFSR (Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic). Since 1922, was in emigration: first in Paris and Berlin, later in Turkey. Continued to support the idea of Azerbaijan's national independence. Wrote a number of scientific and journalistic works on history and literature of Azerbaijan.

Mamed Emin Rasuladze deceased in Ankara on March 6, 1955.