This article examines post-World War I military-political landscape in the South Caucasus, with a specific focus on its influence on the evolving relationship between the Bolsheviks and the Kemalists. A notable outcome of this development was the Sovietization of Azerbaijan and the establishment of a corridor connecting Moscow and Ankara. The study is based on a comprehensive body of source materials derived from Azerbaijani and Russian archives, with a primary emphasis on the holdings of the State Historical Archive of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Additionally, it draws from officially published documents originating from the late 1910s to early 1920s, as well as memoir literature penned by contemporaries and direct participants in the events of the early 20th century. This multifaceted approach facilitates a meticulous reconstruction of the nature of Baku's interactions with neighboring nations and Western powers, particularly Great Britain and the United States. Significantly, it encourages a reevaluation of established interpretations of the events spanning from 1918 to 1920. Moreover, the analysis underscores the volatile shifts in foreign policy orientation exhibited by the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in the aftermath of the First World War, ultimately revealing the principal factors contributing to the swift decline of the Musavatist government.
Soviet-Turkish relations; Kemalists; Bolsheviks; Azerbaijan Democratic Republic; Musavatist government.