List of heads of state of Azerbaijan

This is the list of the heads of state of Azerbaijan from 1918 to the present. 25 people have been head of the Azerbaijani state since its establishment in 1918. It includes leaders of short-lived Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918–1920), of Soviet Azerbaijan (1920–1991), and of post-Soviet era.

Multiple terms in office, consecutive or otherwise, are listed and counted in the first column (administration number) and the second column counts individuals.

The youngest head of state by his accession to office was Grigory Kaminsky, at age 25, and the oldest Heydar Aliyev, at age 70.

Leaders of Azerbaijan since 1918 edit

Colour key
(for political parties)
  None

Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918–1920) edit

Chairman of the Azerbaijani National Council edit

No.President
(birth–death)
Term of officePolitical partyGovernmentElectedRef
PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTime in office
1 Mammad Amin Rasulzade
Məmməd Əmin Rəsulzadə
(1884–1955)
28 May 19187 December 1918193 daysMusavat
1. Rasulzade I1918[1]
Regarded as the first President in the modern sense; won the Battle of Baku; remained neutral on the Russian Civil War; established Azerbaijani Armed Forces.

Chairman of Parliament edit

No.Chairman of Parliament
(birth–death)
Term of officePolitical partyGovernmentElectedRef
PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTime in office
2 Alimardan Topchubashov
Əlimərdan Topçubaşov
(1862–1934)
7 December 191827 April 19201 year, 142 daysIttifaq al-Muslimin
2. Topchubashov I1918[2]
Achieved the de facto recognition of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.

Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic (1922–1936) and Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic (1936–1991) edit

Chairman of the Presidium of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan SSR edit

No.Chairman
(birth–death)
Term of officePolitical partyGovernmentElectedRef
PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTime in office
3 Mirza Davud Huseynov
Mirzə Davud Hüseynov
(1894–1938)
28 April 192023 July 192086 daysCommunist
(Bolsheviks)
3. Hüseynov I[3]
During the Great Purge, he was arrested, accused of plotting against the Soviet state, sentenced to death and executed.
4Victor Naneyshvili
Viktor Naneyşvili
(1878–1940)
23 July 19209 September 192048 daysCommunist
(Bolsheviks)
4. Naneyşvili I[4]
During the Great Purge, he was arrested, accused of plotting against the Soviet state, sentenced to death and executed.
5 Elena Stasova
Yelena Stasova
(1873–1966)
9 September 192015 September 19206 daysCommunist
(Bolsheviks)
5. Stasova I[5]
Shortest serving leader of communist Azerbaijan
6Vladimir Dumbadze
Vladimir Dumbadze
(1879–1934)
15 September 192024 November 192070 daysCommunist
(Bolsheviks)
6. Dumbadze I[6]
During the Great Purge, he was arrested, accused of plotting against the Soviet state, sentenced to death and executed.

Executive Secretary of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan SSR edit

No.Secretary
(birth–death)
Term of officePolitical partyGovernmentElectedRef
PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTime in office
7 Grigory Kaminsky
Qriqori Kaminski
(1895–1938)
24 October 192024 July 1921273 daysCommunist
(Bolsheviks)
7. Kaminski I[7]
During the Great Purge, he was arrested, accused of plotting against the Soviet state, sentenced to death and executed.

First Secretary of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan SSR edit

No.First Secretary
(birth–death)
Term of officePolitical partyGovernmentRef
PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTime in office
8 Sergey Kirov
Sergey Kirov
(1886–1934)
24 July 19215 January 19253 years, 165 daysCommunist
(Bolsheviks)
8. Kirov I[8]
Enforced Soviet rule over unwilling Azerbaijani nationalists; played an important role in helping to deliver Baku’s oil to Soviet Russia.
9Ruhulla Akhundov
Ruhulla Axundov
(1897–1938)
5 January 192521 January 19261 year, 16 daysCommunist
(Bolsheviks)
9. Axundov I[9]
During the Great Purge, he was arrested, accused of plotting against the Soviet state, sentenced to death and executed.
10 Levon Mirzoyan
Levon Mirzoyan
(1887–1939)
21 January 192611 July 19293 years, 171 daysCommunist
(Bolsheviks)
10. Mirzoyan I[10]
Purged Azerbaijani intelligentsia, communist leaders who had sympathized with the opposition or who might have once leaned toward Pan-Turkism.
11 Nikolay Gikalo
Nikolay Gikalo
(1897–1938)
11 July 19295 August 19301 year, 25 daysCommunist
(Bolsheviks)
11. Gikalo I[11]
During the Great Purge, he was arrested, accused of plotting against the Soviet state, sentenced to death and executed.
12 Vladimir Polonsky
Vladimir Polonski
(1893–1937)
5 August 19307 February 19332 years, 186 daysCommunist
(Bolsheviks)
12. Polonski I[12]
During the Great Purge, he was arrested, accused of plotting against the Soviet state, sentenced to death and executed.
13 Ruben Rubenov
Ruben Rubenov
(1894–1937)
7 February 193310 December 1933306 daysCommunist
(Bolsheviks)
13. Rubenov I[13]
During the Great Purge, he was arrested, accused of plotting against the Soviet state, sentenced to death and executed.
14 Mir Jafar Baghirov
Mir Cəfər Bağırov
(1896–1956)
10 December 19336 April 195319 years, 117 daysCommunist
14. Bağırov I[14]
Followed Stalin's orders without question; Purged Azerbaijani intelligentsia, communist leaders who had sympathized with the opposition or who might have once leaned toward Pan-Turkism.
15 Mir Teymur Yaqubov
Mir Teymur Yaqubov
(1904–1970)
6 April 195317 February 1954317 daysCommunist
15. Yaqubov I[15]
16 Imam Mustafayev
Imam Mustafayev
(1910–1997)
17 February 195410 July 19595 years, 143 daysCommunist
16. Mustafayev I[16]
Restored Azerbaijani language as the official language of the Azerbaijan SSR.
17 Vali Akhundov
Vəli Axundov
(1916–1986)
10 July 195914 July 196910 years, 4 daysCommunist
17. Axundov I[17]
He is credited in Azerbaijan for rebuffing the Armenian claims for Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast in 1965.
18 Heydar Aliyev
Heydər Əliyev
(1923–2003)
14 July 19693 December 198213 years, 142 daysCommunist
18. H.Əliyev I[18]
Temporarily improved economic conditions and promoted alternative industries to the declining oil industry.
19 Kamran Baghirov
Kamran Bağırov
(1933–2000)
3 December 198221 May 19885 years, 170 daysCommunist
19. Bağırov I[19]
He was strongly criticized for worsening economic conditions in Azerbaijan.
20 Abdurrahman Vazirov
Əbdürrəhman Vəzirov
(1930–2022)
21 May 198825 January 19901 year, 249 daysCommunist
20. Vəzirov I[20]
Shared internationalist values and aspirations for political reform but he could not cope effectively with the complex political situation in Azerbaijan.
21 Ayaz Mutallibov
Ayaz Mütəllibov
(1938–2022)
25 January 199014 September 19911 year, 232 daysCommunist
21. Mütəllibov I[21]
Black January.
Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan SSR

Republic of Azerbaijan (1990–present) edit

No.President
(birth–death)
Term of officeElectedPolitical partyGovernmentRef
PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTime in office
(21) Ayaz Mutallibov
Azerbaijani: Ayaz Mütəllibov
(1938–2022)
18 May 19906 March 19921 year, 293 days1990Communist
22. Mütəllibov II
8 September 19916 March 19921991
First Nagorno-Karabakh War; Khojaly Massacre; Capture of Shusha; 1991 Azerbaijani Mil Mi-8 shootdown. Forced to submit his resignation after pressure from Azerbaijan Popular Front.
Yagub Mammadov (acting)
Azerbaijani: Yaqub Məmmədov
(born 1941)
6 March 199214 May 199269 daysNone[22]
Ousted by the armed revolt led by Azerbaijan Popular Front.
(21) Ayaz Mutallibov
Azerbaijani: Ayaz Mütəllibov
(1938–2022)
14 May 199218 May 19924 daysNoneMütəllibov II
Deposed from his duty after takeover by Azerbaijan Popular Front.
Isa Gambar (acting)
Azerbaijani: İsa Qəmbər
(born 1957)
18 May 199217 June 199230 daysMusavat
[23]
Took temporary duties of president until the national elections in 1992.
22Abulfaz Elchibey
Azerbaijani: Əbülfəz Elçibəy
(1938–2000)
17 June 199224 June 19931 year, 7 days1992Azerbaijani Popular Front Party23. Elçibəy I[24]
Among the Soviet republics the Russian army was first withdrawn from Azerbaijan; The national currency of Azerbaijan was put into circulation; State Treasure Foundation was established; Entrance examinations to the high and vocational educational was held with test method for the first time; The foundation of private institutions in the education field was permitted; The passage to the Latin alphabet; Founded the SOCAR; Re-established Azerbaijani Armed Forces; Operation Goranboy.
Heydar Aliyev
Azerbaijani: Heydər Əliyev
(1923–2003)
24 June 199310 October 199310 years, 129 daysNew Azerbaijan Party24. H.Əliyev II[25]
(18)10 October 19933 October 20031993
3 October 199831 October 20031998
Founded the YAP; Heydar Aliyev's cult of personality; Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline; South Caucasus Pipeline; 1994 Baku Metro bombings. Survived coup attempt in 1995.
23 Ilham Aliyev
Azerbaijani: İlham Əliyev
(born 1961)
15 October 200315 October 200820 years, 212 days2003New Azerbaijan Party25. İ.Əliyev I[26]
15 October 20089 October 20132008
9 October 201311 April 20182013
11 April 20187 February 20242018
7 February 2024Incumbent2024
Azerbaijan was elected as a non-permanent member to United Nations Security Council; foiled 2007 Baku terrorist plot; Azerbaijan State Oil Academy shooting; 2010 Mardakert skirmishes; 2011 Azerbaijani protests; Eurovision Song Contest 2012; 2013 Baku protests; 2014 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes; 2014 Nagorno-Karabakh Mil Mi-24 shootdown; 2015 European Games; 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh clashes; Baku City Circuit; 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games; 2020 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes; 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Timeline edit

Ilham AliyevAbulfaz ElchibeyIsa GambarYagub MammandovAyaz MutallibovAbdurrahman VazirovKamran BaghirovHeydar AliyevVali AkhundovImam MustafayevMir Teymur YaqubovMir Jafar BaghirovRuben RubenovVladimir PolonskyNikolay GikaloLevon MirzoyanRuhulla AkhundovSergey KirovGrigory KaminskyVladimir DumbadzeElena StasovaVictor NaneyshviliMirza Davud HuseynovAlimardan TopchubashovMammad Amin Rusulzade

See also edit

References edit

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  2. ^ Akhundov, Fuad. "Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan Leaders". www.azer.com. Azerbaijan International. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  3. ^ "Ministry of Finance of Republic of Azerbaijan. History of the ministry". Archived from the original on 24 November 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
  4. ^ Черкесское имя в истории Азербайджана. maikop.bezformata.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  5. ^ Lazitch and Drachkovitch, Biographical Dictionary of the Comintern, pg. 444.
  6. ^ «ЗА УБИЙСТВОМ ГЕНЕРАЛА ДУМБАДЗЕ СТОИТ СААКАШВИЛИ». vesti.az (in Russian). Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  7. ^ Каминский Григорий Наумович. pomnipro.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  8. ^ Getty, J. Arch, Origins of the Great Purges: The Soviet Communist Party Reconsidered, 1933–38, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1987), 207.
  9. ^ Ахундов Рухулла Али оглы. www.kavkaz-uzel.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  10. ^ "Moscow and the delimitation of Karabakh in the 1920s". biweekly.ada.edu.az. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  11. ^ Musayev, Ismail. "The Big Territorial Giveaway (II part)". www.visions.az. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  12. ^ "Справочник по истории Коммунистической партии и Советского Союза 1898–1991. Полонский Владимир Иванович" [Directory of history of Communist party and Soviet Union in 1898–1991]. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  13. ^ Davies, Robert William (2003). Stalin-Kaganovich correspondence, 1931–1936. Yale University Press. p. 408. ISBN 0-300-09367-5.
  14. ^ De Waal, Thomas (2003). Black garden: Armenia and Azerbaijan through peace and war. New York and London: New York University. p. 138. ISBN 0-8147-1944-9.
  15. ^ "Geo World. Leaders of Azerbaijan". Archived from the original on 23 January 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
  16. ^ "Directory of biographies. Imam Mustafayev". Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
  17. ^ Lewis Siegelbaum. "Seventeen Moments in Soviet History. 1973: Shakeup in the Republics". Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
  18. ^ Louise I. Shelley. Policing Soviet Society: The Evolution of State Control, Routledge, 1996, ISBN 0-415-10469-6, p. 88
  19. ^ Swietochowski, Tadeusz; Collins, Brian C. (1999). Historical dictionary of Azerbaijan. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, Inc. p. 30. ISBN 0-8108-3550-9.
  20. ^ Robert V. Barylski. "The Russian Federation and Eurasia's Islamic Crescent", Europe-Asia Studies, Vol. 46, No. 3. (1994), p. 397
  21. ^ "Exiled Former President Returns To Azerbaijan For Son's Funeral". www.rferl.org. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  22. ^ "Yaqub Məmmədov nurçuları Azərbaycana gətirənin adını açıqladı - MÜSAHİBƏ". publika.az (in Azerbaijani). 5 May 2014. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  23. ^ "İsa Qəmbər on adam.az". adam.az (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  24. ^ (in French) "Les liaisons dangereuses de la police turque" Archived 2013-11-05 at the Wayback Machine, Le Monde diplomatique, March 1997
  25. ^ Lewis, Paul (13 December 2003). "H.A. Aliyev, K.G.B. Officer And Azeri Leader, 80, Dies". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  26. ^ "Azerbaijan's Ilham Aliyev claims election victory". BBC News. 9 October 2013. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2014.

External links edit