Ayaz Mutallibov

Ayaz Niyazi oghlu MutallibovTemplate:Efn (12 May 1938 – 27 March 2022)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> was an Azerbaijani politician who served as the first president of Azerbaijan. He was the last leader of Soviet Azerbaijan, and first President of Azerbaijan from 18 May 1990 until 6 March 1992 and from 14 May until 18 May 1992.

He rose through the ranks of the Azerbaijan Communist Party during Soviet Azerbaijan before becoming leader of the party in 1990. Later that year, the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan SSR elected Mutallibov as the first President of Azerbaijan SSR. In September 1991, amid the collapse of the Soviet Union and independence of Azerbaijan, Mutallibov declared himself President of Azerbaijan in an uncontested election.<ref name=":2" /> He was ousted from power in May 1992 when he tried to cancel the forthcoming presidential election.<ref name=":2" />

Early life and career

Mutallibov was born on 12 May 1938, in Baku to the family of a physician and later World War II veteran, Niyazi Ashraf oghlu Mutallibov (Template:Langx), and gynaecologist Kubra Mutallibova (died in 1988).<ref name="Caucasian Knot 2003">Template:Cite web</ref> Both of his parents were from Shamakhi.

In 1956, Ayaz Mutallibov graduated from the secondary school #189 in Baku. During his youth he was fond of jazz music. He was a member of the school volleyball team. In 1956–62, Mutallibov attended the Azerbaijan State Institute of Petroleum and Chemistry.<ref name="Caucasian Knot 2003" />

In 1964, he became the director of the Baku Refrigerator Factory,Template:Citation needed and in 1974, he was appointed the General Director of the "BakElectroBytMash" State Industrial Company.<ref name="Caucasian Knot 2003" />

Political career

In 1977, he was appointed Second Secretary of the Azerbaijan Communist Party Committee in the Narimanov District of Baku. In 1979, he was promoted to the republic's Council of Ministers, assuming the post of Minister of Local Industry of the Azerbaijan SSR. In 1982, he became Chairman of the State Planning Committee and Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Azerbaijan SSR. In January 1989, he was appointed Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Azerbaijan SSR.

Party leadership and Presidency of Azerbaijan

On 24 January 1990, four days after Soviet troops entered Baku, marking the beginning of the Black January crackdown, Mutallibov, at this point in Moscow, is appointed the First Secretary of the Azerbaijan Communist Party.

On 18 May 1990, the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan SSR elected Mutallibov as the first President of Azerbaijan SSR. In December 1990, at Mutallibov's initiative, the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan SSR officially renamed the country to the Azerbaijan Republic and adopted the Declaration of Sovereignty.

On 17 March 1991, under pressure from Mutallibov, the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan voted for the participation of Azerbaijan in the referendum on the fate of the Soviet Union. On 19 August 1991, according to some reports, while on a visit to Tehran, Mutalibov made a statement in support of the Soviet coup attempt of 1991.<ref>Ольга Васильева, «Путч. Хроника тревожных дней»</ref> However, in 2016, the ex-president of Azerbaijan said that he did not support the putschists.<ref>Аяз Муталибов: «Крупная подстава моих врагов»</ref>

In September 1991, amid the collapse of the Soviet Union and independence of Azerbaijan, Mutallibov dissolved the Communist Party of Azerbaijan<ref>Компартия Азербайджана объявила о самороспуске</ref> declared himself President of Azerbaijan in an uncontested election.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite book</ref> Mutallibov negotiated with the opposition, in particularly the Popular Front party, during his presidency.<ref name=":2" /> After pressure from the Popular Front, Mutallibov established a parliament where power was divided between opposition figures and the communist old guard.<ref name=":2" />

Ousting

On 6 March 1992, under pressure from Azerbaijan Popular Front amid substantial Azerbaijani losses in the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, Mutallibov was forced to submit his resignation to the National Assembly of Azerbaijan. He handed the presidency to his ally Yaqub Mammadov.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":2" /> On 14 May, the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan, dominated by the former members of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan, heard the case on Khojaly Massacre, relieved Mutallibov of any responsibility, and reversed his prior resignation, restoring him as the President of Azerbaijan.<ref name=":1" />

Upon taking the powers of the presidency again, Mutallibov cancelled the forthcoming presidential elections, which were set to take place on 7 June 1992.<ref name=":1" /> A day later, armed forces led by the Azerbaijan Popular Front under the command of Police Colonel Isgandar Hamidov, took control of the offices of the Parliament of Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani State Radio and Television, thereby deposing Mutallibov, who left for Moscow.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> The defunct Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan was dissolved passing the duties to the National Assembly of Azerbaijan formed by equal representation of Azerbaijan Popular Front and former communists. Isa Gambar of the Popular Front party was subsequently made acting president; Gambar reinstated the upcoming presidential elections which were won by Abulfaz Elchibey.<ref name=":1" />

Exile

File:Ilham Aliyev attended ceremony to commemorate Khojaly genocide victims, 2020 13.jpg

Mutallibov (right), President Ilham Aliyev (center) and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, 2020

Mutallibov was in exile in Moscow from May 1992 until July 2012.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> In April 2000, his followers in Baku declared the formation of the new Civil Union Party. In 2003 he joined the Azerbaijan Social Democratic Party (ASDP) and became its co-chairman in exile.<ref>Agadjanian, Alexander; Jödicke, Ansgar; Zweerde, Evert van der (2014-10-10). Religion, Nation and Democracy in the South Caucasus. Routledge. p.177. Template:ISBN</ref> His son Azad died of cancer on 9 August 2011, leaving only Zaur.<ref>Ayaz Mutallibov's son passes away</ref> in July 2012, Mutallibov returned from exile with the permission of President Ilham Aliyev to attend his son's funeral.<ref name=":0" /> It was his first visit to the country after 1992.

Death

He died at the age of 83 on 27 March 2022, in Baku after a long illness, having been hospitalized for some time.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

Mutallibov was married to Adila Mutallibova, who died in 2019.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Mutalibov met his wife in 1956 at the birthday party of a mutual friend.<ref name="Экспресс газета">Template:Cite news</ref> They had two sons, Azad and Zaur, grandson Tahir and granddaughter Madina. In an interview with Express Gazeta, Mutalibov spoke about his youthful hobbies, saying he loved to listen to jazz, Elvis Presley, and The Beatles, for which he was often criticized by a Komsomol newspaper.<ref name="Экспресс газета" /> In his youth he was also actively involved in sports and was fond of volleyball.<ref name="Экспресс газета" />

Awards

• 2 Orders of the Red Banner of Labor<ref name="Первый президент">Template:Cite book</ref>

See also

• President of Azerbaijan
• Politics of Azerbaijan
• National Assembly of Azerbaijan
• Foreign relations of Azerbaijan
• List of political parties in Azerbaijan

External links

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• Ayaz Mutallibov