The Orenburg Regional Court has begun hearing the state prosecution's appeal in the 6-million-ruble bribe case involving former senator Rauf Arashukov. The prosecution is seeking to increase the fine for the former official, who was sentenced to life imprisonment, from 120 million to 420 million rubles.
On May 28, Azerbaijan celebrates Independence Day. On this day, 105 years ago, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) or the Azerbaijan People's Republic (APR) was proclaimed.
On May 27, 1918, the Council of Transcaucasian Muslims declared itself the Azerbaijan National Council. At this meeting, a committee and chairman of the National Council of Azerbaijan were elected. On May 28, the Declaration of Independence was adopted.
The ADR government eliminated inequality by giving equal rights to all its citizens. The republic was also recognized as a subject of the system of international relations.
The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, 23 months after its creation, ceased to exist as a result of the Bolshevik occupation. In April 1920, Soviet power was established there. After the collapse of the USSR in December 1991, Azerbaijan declared itself the legal successor of the ADR, and the country's independence was restored.