This is the list of all presidents of Azerbaijan from 1990 till date, which includes their terms in office, and political affiliations:
President | Term Start | Term End | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
Ayaz Mutallibov | 18 May 1990 | 6 March 1992 | Communist |
Yagub Mammadov (acting) | 6 March 1992 | 14 May 1992 | None |
Ayaz Mutallibov | 14 May 1992 | 18 May 1992 | None |
Isa Gambar (acting) | 18 May 1992 | 17 June 1992 | Musavat |
Abulfaz Elchibey | 17 June 1992 | 24 June 1993 | Azerbaijani Popular Front Party |
Heydar Aliyev | 24 June 1993 | 10 October 1993 | New Azerbaijan Party |
Heydar Aliyev | 10 October 1993 | 31 October 2003 | New Azerbaijan Party |
Ilham Aliyev | 31 October 2003 | Incumbent | New Azerbaijan Party |
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Who Was The First President Of Azerbaijan?
Ayaz Mutallibov was the first President of Azerbaijan. He was an integral part of the country’s history during a time of major change and uncertainty. Born on May 12, 1938, in Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, Mutallibov started his career in politics under the Soviet system.
He was a member of the Azerbaijan Communist Party and became a popular figure as the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan. This position made him an important leader in Azerbaijan during the late Soviet era.
Mutallibov’s presidency began on May 18, 1990, when Azerbaijan was still part of the Soviet Union. On August 30, 1991, Azerbaijan declared its independence from the Soviet Union, and Mutallibov became the first president of this newly independent nation.
His presidency came at a challenging time, as the Soviet Union was collapsing, and Azerbaijan faced many difficulties, including a serious conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh.
In May 1992, Mutallibov was removed from office after a coup by the Azerbaijan Popular Front, a group that wanted to take a stronger nationalist approach and be more aggressive against Armenia.
After being ousted, he briefly returned to power in May 1992 but was soon replaced by interim leaders until new elections were held.
After his presidency, Mutallibov continued to be involved in Azerbaijani politics but kept a lower profile. He later joined the Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan. However, Ayaz Mutallibov passed away on March 27, 2022, at the age of 83 in Baku.
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Current President Of Azerbaijan
Ilham Aliyev is the current president of Azerbaijan, and he has been in office since October 31, 2003, having taken over from his father, Heydar Aliyev, who was an important political figure in Azerbaijan.
Heydar Aliyev was president from 1993 until he died in 2003. Ilham Aliyev’s time as president has seen economic growth and political stability, but there have also been many controversies about human rights and how elections are handled.
Ilham Aliyev was born on December 24, 1961, in Baku. He studied international relations and got his degree from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. Later, he earned a PhD in history.
He started his political career in the late 1990s. First, he was appointed deputy prime minister and then served as prime minister for a short time before becoming president.
His father’s strong political legacy helped him rise to power. When he was elected president, there were criticisms about election irregularities, and this pattern continued in later elections.
Aliyev has been re-elected many times. His most recent victory was on February 7, 2024, when he got over 92% of the votes. However, like previous elections, this one also faced accusations of being unfair.
Major opposition parties boycotted the election, saying the political environment was not fair for a true election. Critics argue that Aliyev’s government has suppressed dissent, limited media freedom, and stifled opposition, leading to a political climate with few democratic practices.
Under Aliyev’s leadership, Azerbaijan has seen significant economic growth, mainly due to its oil and gas resources. The country has become a key energy supplier to Europe, increasing its geopolitical importance.
However, this economic success has often been accompanied by allegations of corruption and nepotism. Reports suggest that Aliyev and his family have gained considerable wealth through state-run businesses and offshore dealings.
Aliyev’s foreign policy involves balancing relations between Western powers and Russia. His government has engaged in various international partnerships and played a role in regional conflicts, especially the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia.
Recent military successes in this region have boosted his domestic support, as shown by the celebrations following the 2020 military operations.
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Vice President Of Azerbaijan
The current Vice President of Azerbaijan is Mehriban Aliyeva. She was appointed to this position on February 21, 2017, by her husband, President Ilham Aliyev. This happened after some important changes were made to the country’s constitution.
These changes were approved in a vote by the people in September 2016, including making the presidential term longer, from five years to seven years. They also allowed the president to appoint vice presidents directly.
Mehriban Aliyeva was born on August 26, 1964, in Baku, Azerbaijan. She trained to be a medical doctor and graduated from the Azerbaijan State Medical Institute. Also, she studied at the Moscow State Medical Institute.
Before becoming Vice President, she was already active in politics. She had been a Member of Parliament since 2005 and held an important position in the ruling New Azerbaijan Party.
Besides her political work, Mehriban Aliyeva is known for her charity work. She chairs the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, named after her father-in-law, who was a former president of Azerbaijan. This foundation works to promote Azerbaijani culture, education, and healthcare.