National Awakening in Azerbaijan in the 50-60s of the XX Century

The article explores the key aspects of the policy implemented by the totalitarian Soviet regime inAzerbaijan during the 1950s and 1960s, as well as the socio-political dynamics in the country and thetrends of national revival. It analyzes the National Awakening in Azerbaijan, the rise of chauvinism fromthe center, punitive actions against the Republic's leadership and nationalistic intellectuals, and theefforts by Armenians to exploit the situation to oppress Azerbaijanis in Armenian SSR, which fueledseparatist sentiments among Armenians in Azerbaijan SSR. Despite the ideological pressure andrepression from the Soviet regime, the article highlights the efforts of opposition-minded individuals toorganize amidst the growing national consciousness among the intelligentsia and youth, fostering acritical stance towards the existing regime. The National Awakening that took place in Azerbaijanduring the 1950s and 1960s was crucial not only for preserving the traditions of national statehood andpassing them on to future generations but also for laying the groundwork for the struggle forindependence.