President Aliyev posts video marking 102nd anniversary of Heydar Aliyev’s birth

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has released a video on his official Instagram account to commemorate the 102nd anniversary of the birth of Heydar Aliyev, the country's national leader and former president.

The tribute was posted on May 10 as part of nationwide observances marking the late statesman’s birthday, Caliber.Az reports.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by @presidentaz

Separately, First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva shared a message on Instagram to honour the occasion. “Heydar Aliyev – 102. The bright memory of this great personality will forever remain in our hearts. We remember, love and honour him,” her post read.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Mehriban Aliyeva (@firstvicepresidentazerbaijan)

Note that, May 10 marks the 102nd anniversary of the birth of national leader Heydar Aliyev, a pivotal figure in Azerbaijan’s modern history.

Heydar Aliyev was born on May 10, 1923, in Nakhchivan. His early education was interrupted by World War II, but he later graduated from the Faculty of History at Azerbaijan State University and received specialised training in state security in Leningrad.

He began his career in state security in 1944 and rose to become Chairman of the Committee for State Security of the Azerbaijan SSR by 1967, holding the rank of Major General. In 1969, he became First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan, effectively leading the republic.

In 1982, Aliyev was appointed First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR and became a member of the Soviet Politburo. He resigned in 1987 in protest against Mikhail Gorbachev’s policies.

Following the January 1990 massacre in Baku by Soviet troops, Aliyev publicly condemned the act and, in July 1991, left the Communist Party over its stance on the Karabakh conflict.

Returning to Azerbaijan in 1990, he assumed political leadership roles in Nakhchivan and co-founded the New Azerbaijan Party in 1992. Amid a political crisis in 1993, Aliyev was invited to Baku and soon took over as Chairman of the Supreme Council. On October 3, 1993, he was elected President of Azerbaijan, and re-elected in 1998.

Due to health issues, he withdrew from the 2003 presidential race. He passed away on December 12, 2003, in the United States.

Heydar Aliyev is remembered as the architect of modern Azerbaijani statehood and a stabilising force during turbulent times.

By Aghakazim Guliyev