Alimardan Bey Topchubashov
Alimardan Bey Topchubashov (1862-1934)
Who is Alimardan Bey? Member of the Russian State Duma, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and the first speaker of the parliament. Lawyer and diplomat. It is interesting that Alimardan Bey, who was the chairman of the parliament for 17 months, did not sit on that chair even once. Even when the chairman was elected, he was out of Azerbaijan. Why? More on that later... Some important points from his biography. He was born in Tbilisi in 1862. He graduated from Tbilisi gymnasium and law faculty of St. Petersburg University. He was one of the editors of "Kaspi" newspaper, chairman of the Baku Duma, member of the Russian State Duma, minister of foreign affairs of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. 
By the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers dated August 20, 1918, an extraordinary competent minister for all issues related to the interests of Azerbaijan was appointed in the Ottoman imperial government. Finally, he was elected the chairman of the Azerbaijani parliament in December 1918 at the suggestion of Mammad Amin Rasulzade, the chairman of the National Council, possibly in Istanbul. Some points from his socio-political activity. Alimardan Bey published hundreds of articles in "Kaspi" newspaper in 1897-1917. He closely participated in the establishment of the "Ittifagi Muslimun" organization of Muslims living in Russia. The Nizhny Novgorod and St. Petersburg congresses of the organization were held under his chairmanship. 
Since the founding of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, as a lawyer and scientist, he has worked with all his might for the recognition of the republic by the countries of the world and the establishment of diplomatic relations. A few episodes from his activities during the Republic. On December 28, 1918, the Azerbaijani parliament elected the delegation to the Paris peace conference. Alimardan Bey Topchubashov, who is in Istanbul, was appointed the chairman of the delegation. On January 20, the delegation went to Istanbul. But the French government did not give them visas to go to Paris. Representatives of Ukraine, Georgia and other newly established countries, which are in the same situation as Azerbaijan, joined together and prepared a memorandum. The memorandum prepared under the leadership of Topchubashov was delivered to Webb, the British High Commissioner in Istanbul. Finally, after a three-month struggle, the visa issue was resolved, and the Azerbaijani delegation headed by Alimardan Bey left for Paris on April 22, 1919. The biggest thing Alimardan Bey did in Paris was the meeting of our delegation with US President Woodrow Wilson. Wilson received the Azerbaijani delegation on May 28, 1919, the day the Republic turned one year old. A. Topchubashov informed the US President about the political and economic situation in Azerbaijan, as well as in the South Caucasus, and gave him the memorandum to be submitted to the Paris peace conference. The happiest moment of his life. On January 15, 1920, Topchubashova, who was invited to the French embassy, was informed about the de facto recognition of Azerbaijan by the allied states, and the official document of the Paris peace conference was presented. Bey Alimardan, who was very happy about this, wrote to Prime Minister Nasib Bey Yusifbeyova: "A period is beginning in which our hopes of living free and independent are strengthened...
We do not know anything equal to this happiness." When the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic fell, Alimardan Bey was in Paris and did not return and lived there until the end of his life. He continued to work for the freedom of Azerbaijan. A. Topchubashov, who died on November 5, 1934, was buried in Saint Cloud cemetery in Paris. We should not forget people like Topchubashov. Because they raised our tricolor flag, which we are proud to see today, for the first time.
