In part due to unrest generated by the conflict, a coup d'état deposed the government of Ayaz Mutallibov, who was replaced in elections in 1992 by Abulfaz Elchibey.

In the months leading up to the rebellion, divisions grew between Elchibey and top members of the Azerbaijani military apparatus, including Minister of Defense Rahim Gaziev and Captain Surat Huseynov, leader of the 709th Brigade.

In February 1993, after military personnel reported accusations of insubordination implicating Huseynov and Gaziev, the Elchibey government took action to punish both leaders.

Following this affront, Huseynov's militia, armed with materiel left by the Russian 104th Airbourne Division, began a "march on Baku" to confront the government.

Faced with strengthening opposition and looking for allies, Elchibey turned to Heydar Aliyev, former Azerbaijani KGB head and chairman of the Nakhchivan Supreme Assembly.

Order continued to deteriorate when an associate of Huseynov, Talysh nationalist Alikram Hummatov began another rebellion proclaiming an autonomous republic in the Lankaran region.