 From 1907 he attended the Moscow University and headed the Caucasian student association, but he was expelled due to his revolutionary work.After finishing the studies in 1914, he served in the Army as an officer during World War I and was sent to Caucasian Front where he conducted revolutionary propaganda.After the October Revolution he became Chairman of the Revolutionary Army in Caucasus and, from March 1918, member of the Committee of the Revolutionary Defense of Baku.