Ekinchi

(Äkinchi; The Plowman), the first Azerbaijani newspaper, published from July 22, 1875, through September 1877 in Baku. Ekinchi was founded and edited by G. Zardabi. M. F. Akhundov and Seid Azim Shirvani were among the contributors. Influenced by revolutionary populism, Ekinchi championed democratic ideas and denounced tsarist officials, local rulers, and rural extortioners. It promoted enlightened thought and published articles devoted to the development of realistic literature and art. Publication of the newspaper was hindered by the censors, who prohibited it from dealing with political issues after the outbreak of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78. Ekinchi had a considerable influence on the development of sociopolitical and artistic thought in Azerbaijan.