Azerbaijan’s flag illuminates Minsk landmark on Heydar Aliyev Memorial Day

The National Library of Belarus in Minsk was illuminated in the blue, red, and green colours of Azerbaijan’s national flag in a symbolic tribute marking December 12, the Memorial Day of Azerbaijan’s national leader, Heydar Aliyev.

The Belarusian Embassy in Baku told Report that the special lighting of one of Minsk’s most iconic buildings was dedicated to honouring the memory of Heydar Aliyev, underscoring the respect paid to his legacy beyond Azerbaijan’s borders.

Heydar Aliyev was born on May 10, 1923, in Nakhchivan and went on to become one of the most influential figures in Azerbaijan’s modern history. He began his career in the state security services, later rising to the position of Chairman of the State Security Committee of the Azerbaijan SSR and attaining the rank of major general. In 1969, he was elected First Secretary of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan and subsequently held senior posts in the Soviet leadership, including membership in the Politburo of the USSR.

Amid the political upheaval of the early 1990s, Aliyev returned to Azerbaijan and assumed a leading role during a critical period for the country. In 1992, he founded the New Azerbaijan Party, and in 1993, he was elected President of Azerbaijan. He was re-elected in 1998 and is widely credited with stabilising the state, consolidating its independence, and laying the foundations for long-term development through decisive leadership.

Heydar Aliyev passed away on December 12, 2003, at the Cleveland Clinic in the United States. His death marked the end of an era, but his political legacy continues to shape Azerbaijan’s contemporary history.

By Tamilla Hasanova