After the February Revolution like many ethnic minorities of the shrinking Russian Empire, Azeris also began to form movements aimed at political autonomy from Russia.
In the provinces and districts where Azeris constituted considerable population local Muslim National Councils (MNC) were formed.
Mammad Hasan Hajinski became head of this committee, which also included Mahammad Amin Rasulzade, Alimardan bey Topchubashev, Fatali Khan Khoyski, and other founders of the future Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.
On 16 June the Azerbaijani National Council moved to Ganja and declared it Azerbaijan's temporary capital awaiting the fall of the Baku Commune.
The Council met with resistance of ultra-nationalists who accused it of being too left-wing; and intolerance of Ottoman Commander Nuru Pasha.