Mubariz Aghakerim oğlu Ibrahimov (Azerbaijani: Mübariz Ağakərim oğlu İbrahimov; February 7, 1988 in Əliabad - June 18, 2010 in Çaylı) was an Azerbaijani Warrant Officer and National Hero of Azerbaijan.[1]
Mubariz Ibrahimov | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Native name | Mübariz Ağakərim oğlu İbrahimov |
| Born | February 7, 1988 Əliabad, Bilasuvar Rayon, Azerbaijan SSR, Soviet Union |
| Died | June 18, 2010 (aged 22) Çaylı, Tartar Rayon, Azerbaijan |
| Allegiance |  Azerbaijan |
| Service/ |  Azerbaijani Land Forces |
| Years of service | 2007–2010 |
| Rank | Warrant Officer |
| Commands held | Aghdam Detachment |
| Battles/wars | 2010 Mardakert skirmish |
| Awards | National Hero of Azerbaijan 2010  |
Early years
Mubariz Ibrahimov, was born in Aliabad, Bilasuvar District. After completing his secondary education in 2005, Ibrahimov was conscripted to Azerbaijani Armed Forces serving from 2006 through 2007. In September 2009, he entered the courses for warrants, after which he served in Naftalan.[2]
Death
At around 11.30 PM on June 18, 2010 Ibrahimov wrote a letter[3] and started to move towards the Nagorno-Karabakh Line of Contact without informing anyone in the unit he was serving in. With the darkness of the night and his camouflage, he passed through a kilometer (0.62 mi) mined area alone[4] and raided the Armenian military outpost in the then-occupied Chayli village of Terter region.[5][6] Here, Ibrahimov fought the Armenian forces for five hours using the ammunition at the military station and died around 5 AM.[7] According to numerous sources, he killed 45[8][9][10][11] or 140[12][13] Armenian soldiers. Vladimir Putin had said in a speech that Ibrahimov had fought and killed 135 Armenian soldiers.[14] However, according to the Armenian Government, Ibrahimov killed 4 Armenian soldiers[15] and injured 4.[16]
Body
The body of Mubariz Ibrahimov remained under Armenian control for 141 days. The spokesman of the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan Teymour Abdullayev alleged that "Armenia repeatedly claimed that the soldier's body is not in their hand and they even didn’t abstain to mislead the international organizations". On August 2, photos of Ibrahimov's body were placed on Internet by the Armenians.[17] Azerbaijani authorities asked the ICRC International Committee of the Red Cross to mediate in returning Ibrahimov's body.[18] Later the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church Karekin II asked the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan to return the body to Azerbaijan.[19] Finally the body was returned to Azerbaijan on November 6 following the agreement reached by presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Astrakhan in October 2010. Mubariz Ibrahimov was buried at the second Alley of Honor in Baku. The funeral was attended by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.[20][21]
Legacy
On July 22, 2010, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree that conferred Ibrahimov with the status of national hero. The Cabinet of Ministers is empowered to ensure the naming of one of the secondary schools of Bilesuvar after Mubariz Ibrahimov and the executive powers of Bilesuvar are empowered to ensure the naming of one of the streets after Mubariz Ibrahimov.[22] A documentary about his life was also proposed by MP Ganira Pashayeva.[23] On 15 June 2011, a four-meter tall granite statue of Mubariz Ibrahimov sponsored by Central Bank of Azerbaijan was unveiled in front of school named after him.[24][25]
An armada class tanker in Turkey also bears his name.[26][27]
The 12.7X108 caliber Mubariz Istiglal sniper rifle is named after him.[28]
He is also considered a National Hero in Turkey because of his bravery shown in battle. [citation needed]
Awards and fellowships
- In 2011, he was named the Man of the Year by ANS Group of Companies.[29]
In popular culture
- The Turkish television series Sakarya Fırat has made several references to Ibrahimov.[30]
- A ship named Mubariz İbrahimov in fleet of Turkish oil shipping company Palmali Group of Companies.[31]