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Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, 1991 to today. Draft, not yet reviewed

The modern Republic of Azerbaijan proclaimed its independence on 30 August 1991, shortly before the dissolution of the Soviet Union. In September 1991, the ethnic Armenian majority of the Nagorno-Karabakh region formed the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh, which became de facto independent with the end of the First Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1994, although the region and seven surrounding districts remained internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan. Following the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020, the seven districts and parts of Nagorno-Karabakh were returned to Azerbaijani control. An Azerbaijani offensive in 2023 ended the Republic of Artsakh and resulted in the expulsion of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians.

Seat of power: Baku

Rulers

Ayaz Mutallibov

President of Azerbaijan, 1991–1992

He was the last leader of Soviet Azerbaijan and the first president of Azerbaijan. In September 1991, amid the collapse of the Soviet Union and independence of Azerbaijan, Mutallibov declared himself President of Azerbaijan in an uncontested election. He was ousted from power in May 1992 when he tried to cancel the forthcoming presidential election.

Portrait of Ayaz Mutallibov: World Economic Forum from Cologny, Switzerland, CC BY-SA 2.0, file

Abulfaz Elchibey

President of Azerbaijan, 1992–1993

He was elected as the president of Azerbaijan in independent Azerbaijan's first free election in 1992. He served from 17 June 1992 until his ouster in a 24 June 1993 military coup. Elchibey's term took place during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War against neighboring Armenia.

Portrait of Abulfaz Elchibey: Government of Azerbaijan, CC BY 3.0, file

Isa Gambar

President of Azerbaijan, 1992–1992

In May 1992, he was elected Speaker of the Parliament. He assumed the role of acting President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, during which he oversaw the country's preparations for democratic elections.

Portrait of Isa Gambar: Voice of America, Public domain, file

Yaqub Mammadov

President of Azerbaijan, 1992–1992

Yagub Mammadov was the acting President of Azerbaijan from 6 March to 14 May and from 18 to 19 May 1992. On 6 March, President Ayaz Mutallibov was forced to resign and, according to the Azerbaijani constitution of the period, the speaker of the parliament, Yagub Mammadov, assumed the presidential duties until the new elections.

Heydar Aliyev

President of Azerbaijan, 1993–2003

Aliyev was a Soviet party boss in the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic from 1969 to 1982, and the third president of Azerbaijan from 1993 to 2003. Aliyev was installed as president of Azerbaijan after the 1993 military coup ousted President Abulfaz Elchibey. Shortly after taking charge, Aliyev organized a presidential election where he won nearly 99% of the vote.

Portrait of Heydar Aliyev: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, CC BY 4.0, file

Ilham Aliyev

President of Azerbaijan, 2003 to today

He has been the fourth president of Azerbaijan since 2003. He is the son of the previous president, Heydar Aliyev, and has led the New Azerbaijan Party since 2005. He was re-elected for a second term in 2008 and was allowed to run in elections indefinitely after the 2009 constitutional referendum removed presidential term limits, winning subsequent elections in 2013, 2018 and 2024.

Portrait of Ilham Aliyev: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, CC BY 4.0, file

Culture

Picture

The Flame Towers are a group of three skyscrapers in Baku, Azerbaijan, and the tallest tower is 182 m high.

Image: Viceskeeni2, CC0, file

Sources

Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.