Azerbaijani officials pay tribute to Heydar Aliyev on 22nd anniversary of his death PHOTO

Senior state and government officials have paid tribute to the national leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, on the 22nd anniversary of his death.

The delegation included Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of the Milli Majlis, and Samir Nuriyev, Head of the Presidential Administration, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

Flowers were laid at the Alley of Honour, where Aliyev is buried, as officials honoured his memory with deep respect.

Heydar Aliyev, born on May 10, 1923, in Nakhchivan, was a prominent Azerbaijani statesman and national leader. He began his career in the state security services, eventually becoming Chairman of the State Security Committee of the Azerbaijan SSR and receiving the rank of Major General. In 1969, he was elected First Secretary of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan, and later held top positions in the USSR government, including membership in the Politburo.

Returning to Azerbaijan amid political turmoil in the early 1990s, Aliyev led the country through a critical period, founding the New Azerbaijan Party in 1992. He became President of Azerbaijan in 1993 and was re-elected in 1998. Known for his decisive leadership, he played a key role in stabilising the country and strengthening its independence.

Heydar Aliyev passed away on December 12, 2003, at the Cleveland Clinic in the United States, leaving a lasting legacy in Azerbaijan’s modern history.

By Aghakazim Guliyev