History of Heydar Aliyev

Heydar Aliyev was a towering figure in Azerbaijani politics for more than thirty years, serving as a key leader during the Soviet era and in the newly independent Azerbaijan. Born on May 10, 1923, in Nakhchivan, a strategically significant region of Azerbaijan, Aliyev began his political and professional career under the Soviet regime and rose to prominence by navigating the complexities of Soviet bureaucratic structures and post-Soviet national challenges.

Aliyev's early life was marked by adversity and determination. Coming from a modest background, he pursued education diligently, graduating from the Azerbaijan Industrial Institute with a degree in architecture. However, the turning point in his career came when he was admitted to the Azerbaijan branch of the USSR State Security Committee (KGB) in 1944. His capabilities were quickly recognized, and he advanced through the ranks, becoming the chief of the KGB in Azerbaijan in 1967. This position marked the beginning of his powerful influence in Azerbaijani and Soviet politics.

In 1969, he became the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan, effectively the head of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. During his tenure, Aliyev focused on economic reform and infrastructure development, which had a lasting impact on Azerbaijan’s industrial capacity and overall modernization. His leadership was characterized by a drive to improve living standards within the constraints of the Soviet system, aiming to reduce dependency on other Soviet republics by expanding local industry and energy resources.

Aliyev’s influence extended beyond Azerbaijan. In 1982, he was appointed as a full member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, making him one of the highest-ranking officials in the Soviet Union. His presence in the Politburo was a significant achievement, as few non-Russians attained such positions. His work in Moscow was marked by efforts to liberalize certain aspects of Azerbaijan’s economy, although these attempts were often aligned with maintaining the broader Soviet policies.

The late 1980s were tumultuous for Aliyev, as the Soviet Union experienced significant political upheaval. In 1987, he was forced to resign from the Politburo amid political intrigue and shifting allegiances under Mikhail Gorbachev’s leadership. This period also coincided with rising ethnic tensions in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, an area disputed between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which became a central issue during the waning years of the Soviet Union and beyond.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Azerbaijan declared independence but descended into economic and political instability, exacerbated by the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. This period was marked by a succession of weak governments, each unable to consolidate power effectively. Amid this turmoil, Aliyev returned to his native Nakhchivan, where he was elected Chairman of the Supreme Assembly of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, positioning himself as a key figure in Azerbaijani politics once again.

By 1993, Azerbaijan faced a deepening crisis, with internal power struggles and external conflicts threatening the country’s stability. Amidst these challenges, Heydar Aliyev was invited to Baku to help resolve the crisis. In June 1993, he became the acting President of Azerbaijan following a coup against President Abulfaz Elchibey. Shortly thereafter, he was formally elected President, a position he maintained through subsequent elections in 1998, leading the country until 2003.

Aliyev's presidency was characterized by efforts to stabilize the nation, rebuild the economy, and assert Azerbaijan’s sovereignty on the international stage. He negotiated ceasefire agreements related to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and pursued policies aimed at economic liberalization and foreign investment, particularly in the oil and gas sectors. His administration signed the "Contract of the Century" in 1994, attracting significant international investment in Azerbaijan's energy resources, which laid the groundwork for future economic development.

Under Aliyev’s leadership, Azerbaijan sought to balance relationships with regional powers, such as Russia, Turkey, and Iran, while also engaging with Western countries and institutions. This foreign policy strategy aimed at securing Azerbaijan’s independence and territorial integrity while fostering economic growth and modernization.

Heydar Aliyev’s health began to decline in the early 2000s, prompting the political ascendancy of his son, Ilham Aliyev. In 2003, Heydar Aliyev withdrew from the presidential race, endorsing Ilham, who succeeded him as President of Azerbaijan after the election. Heydar Aliyev passed away on December 12, 2003, in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, but his legacy continues to shape Azerbaijani politics and society.

Aliyev is remembered as a pragmatic, if authoritarian, leader who managed to transition Azerbaijan from Soviet rule to independence, laying a foundation for the country’s economic success and geopolitical significance in the region. His tenure encapsulated the complexities of post-Soviet governance, blending authoritarian control with economic pragmatism and strategic diplomacy, leaving a lasting imprint on Azerbaijan's national narrative.