Features of Statehood of the South Caucasian Republics

The paper attempts to identify and analyze some of the most important, in the author’s opinion, peculiarities of formation of statehood in three independent republics of the South Caucasus, focusing attention on the Republic of Azerbaijan. It is shown that these republics went highly tortuous and difficult path of state building, reaching significant progress in social and economic and political modernization to these days for more than two decades of their independence. In the author's opinion, Azerbaijan achieved the most impressive success in the social and economic field. Considerable space is devoted to the analysis of the nature of political regimes of three countries. The conclusion is made that due to their systemic and structural characteristics, they have a controversial character with elements of both democracy and authoritarianism. As for Azerbaijan, in this country, under the guise of democratic rhetoric, rigidly authoritarian form of government is created, where all actual state power is concentrated in the hands of the president.