History of Azerbaijani press

The story of the press in Azerbaijan began with Akinchi, the first Azerbaijani-language newspaper, published by Hasan bey Zardabi in Baku between 1875 and 1877.

The whole generation of public figures, talented Azerbaijani publicists and leading thinkers of their time were trained and formed in press.

He sought agreement for publication of “Akinchi” newspaper in native language in the period of Tsar’s colonial system, after a prolonged struggle.

[1] Publishing the newspaper Hasan bey first of all attempted to achieve the main goal – propagation of ideas of the nation’s enlightenment.

The first typographies and lithographies were established in Baku, Shamakhi, Ganja and other cities because of a growth in the amount of newspapers published in native language.

[4] Democratic ideas the foundations of which in Azerbaijani literature were set by Mirza Fatali Akhundov were developed in creativity of Seyid Azim Shirvani, Jalil Mammadguluzadeh (1866-1932) and Najaf bey Vazirov (1854-1926).

Akhundov, who began his writing with poems, then created a series of comedies including Narrative about Ibrahim Khalil the Alchemist, Adventures of the Miser ("Haji Gara") and The Vizier of Lankaran Khanate.

During this period he wrote such works as “A stone thrown behind, will hit in the heel”, “Late contrition doesn’t yield fruits”, “Only name has remained” and “Fakraddin’s grief”.