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This is the list of the heads of state of Azerbaijan from 1918 to the present. 25 people have been head of the Azerbaijani state since its establishment in 1918. It includes leaders of short-lived Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918–1920), of Soviet Azerbaijan (1920–1991), and of post-Soviet era.

Multiple terms in office, consecutive or otherwise, are listed and counted in the first column (administration number) and the second column counts individuals.

The youngest head of state by his accession to office was Grigory Kaminsky, at age 25, and the oldest Heydar Aliyev, at age 70.

Leaders of Azerbaijan since 1918

Colour key
(for political parties)
  None
  Musavat
  Ittifaq al-Muslimin
  Communist Party of the Soviet Union (Bolsheviks)
  Communist Party of the Soviet Union
  New Azerbaijan Party
  Azerbaijani Popular Front Party

Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918–1920)

Chairman of the Azerbaijani National Council
No. President
(birth–death) 		Term of office Political party Government Elected Ref
Portrait Name Took office Left office Time in office
1 Mammad Amin Rasulzade
Məmməd Əmin Rəsulzadə
(1884–1955) 		28 May 1918 7 December 1918 193 days Musavat
1. Rasulzade I 1918 [1]
Regarded as the first President in the modern sense; won the Battle of Baku; remained neutral on the Russian Civil War; established Azerbaijani Armed Forces.
Chairman of Parliament
No. Chairman of Parliament
(birth–death) 		Term of office Political party Government Elected Ref
Portrait Name Took office Left office Time in office
2 Alimardan Topchubashov
Əlimərdan Topçubaşov
(1862–1934) 		7 December 1918 27 April 1920 1 year, 142 days Ittifaq al-Muslimin
2. Topchubashov I 1918 [2]
Achieved the de facto recognition of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.

Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic (1922–1936) and Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic (1936–1991)

Chairman of the Presidium of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan SSR
No. Chairman
(birth–death) 		Term of office Political party Government Elected Ref
Portrait Name Took office Left office Time in office
3 Mirza Davud Huseynov
Mirzə Davud Hüseynov
(1894–1938) 		28 April 1920 23 July 1920 86 days Communist
(Bolsheviks) 		3. Hüseynov I — [3]
During the Great Purge, he was arrested, accused of plotting against the Soviet state, sentenced to death and executed.
4 Victor Naneyshvili
Viktor Naneyşvili
(1878–1940) 		23 July 1920 9 September 1920 48 days Communist
(Bolsheviks) 		4. Naneyşvili I — [4]
During the Great Purge, he was arrested, accused of plotting against the Soviet state, sentenced to death and executed.
5 Elena Stasova
Yelena Stasova
(1873–1966) 		9 September 1920 15 September 1920 6 days Communist
(Bolsheviks) 		5. Stasova I — [5]
Shortest serving leader of communist Azerbaijan
6 Vladimir Dumbadze
Vladimir Dumbadze
(1879–1934) 		15 September 1920 24 November 1920 70 days Communist
(Bolsheviks) 		6. Dumbadze I — [6]
During the Great Purge, he was arrested, accused of plotting against the Soviet state, sentenced to death and executed.
Executive Secretary of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan SSR
No. Secretary
(birth–death) 		Term of office Political party Government Elected Ref
Portrait Name Took office Left office Time in office
7 Grigory Kaminsky
Qriqori Kaminski
(1895–1938) 		24 October 1920 24 July 1921 273 days Communist
(Bolsheviks) 		7. Kaminski I — [7]
During the Great Purge, he was arrested, accused of plotting against the Soviet state, sentenced to death and executed.
First Secretary of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan SSR
No. First Secretary
(birth–death) 		Term of office Political party Government Ref
Portrait Name Took office Left office Time in office
8 Sergey Kirov
Sergey Kirov
(1886–1934) 		24 July 1921 5 January 1925 3 years, 165 days Communist
(Bolsheviks) 		8. Kirov I [8]
Enforced Soviet rule over unwilling Azerbaijani nationalists; played an important role in helping to deliver Baku’s oil to Soviet Russia.
9 Ruhulla Akhundov
Ruhulla Axundov
(1897–1938) 		5 January 1925 21 January 1926 1 year, 16 days Communist
(Bolsheviks) 		9. Axundov I [9]
During the Great Purge, he was arrested, accused of plotting against the Soviet state, sentenced to death and executed.
10 Levon Mirzoyan
Levon Mirzoyan
(1887–1939) 		21 January 1926 11 July 1929 3 years, 171 days Communist
(Bolsheviks) 		10. Mirzoyan I [10]
Purged Azerbaijani intelligentsia, communist leaders who had sympathized with the opposition or who might have once leaned toward Pan-Turkism.
11 Nikolay Gikalo
Nikolay Gikalo
(1897–1938) 		11 July 1929 5 August 1930 1 year, 25 days Communist
(Bolsheviks) 		11. Gikalo I [11]
During the Great Purge, he was arrested, accused of plotting against the Soviet state, sentenced to death and executed.
12 Vladimir Polonsky
Vladimir Polonski
(1893–1937) 		5 August 1930 7 February 1933 2 years, 186 days Communist
(Bolsheviks) 		12. Polonski I [12]
During the Great Purge, he was arrested, accused of plotting against the Soviet state, sentenced to death and executed.
13 Ruben Rubenov
Ruben Rubenov
(1894–1937) 		7 February 1933 10 December 1933 306 days Communist
(Bolsheviks) 		13. Rubenov I [13]
During the Great Purge, he was arrested, accused of plotting against the Soviet state, sentenced to death and executed.
14 Mir Jafar Baghirov
Mir Cəfər Bağırov
(1896–1956) 		10 December 1933 6 April 1953 19 years, 117 days Communist
14. Bağırov I [14]
Followed Stalin's orders without question; Purged Azerbaijani intelligentsia, communist leaders who had sympathized with the opposition or who might have once leaned toward Pan-Turkism.
15 Mir Teymur Yaqubov
Mir Teymur Yaqubov
(1904–1970) 		6 April 1953 17 February 1954 317 days Communist
15. Yaqubov I [15]
16 Imam Mustafayev
Imam Mustafayev
(1910–1997) 		17 February 1954 10 July 1959 5 years, 143 days Communist
16. Mustafayev I [16]
Restored Azerbaijani language as the official language of the Azerbaijan SSR.
17 Vali Akhundov
Vəli Axundov
(1916–1986) 		10 July 1959 14 July 1969 10 years, 4 days Communist
17. Axundov I [17]
He is credited in Azerbaijan for rebuffing the Armenian claims for Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast in 1965.
18 Heydar Aliyev
Heydər Əliyev
(1923–2003) 		14 July 1969 3 December 1982 13 years, 142 days Communist
18. H.Əliyev I [18]
Temporarily improved economic conditions and promoted alternative industries to the declining oil industry.
19 Kamran Baghirov
Kamran Bağırov
(1933–2000) 		3 December 1982 21 May 1988 5 years, 170 days Communist
19. Bağırov I [19]
He was strongly criticized for worsening economic conditions in Azerbaijan.
20 Abdurrahman Vazirov
Əbdürrəhman Vəzirov
(1930–2022) 		21 May 1988 25 January 1990 1 year, 249 days Communist
20. Vəzirov I [20]
Shared internationalist values and aspirations for political reform but he could not cope effectively with the complex political situation in Azerbaijan.
21 Ayaz Mutallibov
Ayaz Mütəllibov
(1938–2022) 		25 January 1990 14 September 1991 1 year, 232 days Communist
21. Mütəllibov I [21]
Black January.
Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan SSR

Main article: Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic

Republic of Azerbaijan (1990–present)

Presidents
No. President
(birth–death) 		Term of office Elected Political party Government Ref
Portrait Name Took office Left office Time in office
(21) Ayaz Mutallibov
Azerbaijani: Ayaz Mütəllibov
(1938–2022) 		18 May 1990 6 March 1992 1 year, 293 days 1990 Communist
22. Mütəllibov II
8 September 1991 6 March 1992 1991
First Nagorno-Karabakh War; Khojaly Massacre; Capture of Shusha; 1991 Azerbaijani Mil Mi-8 shootdown. Forced to submit his resignation after pressure from Azerbaijan Popular Front.
— Yagub Mammadov (acting)
Azerbaijani: Yaqub Məmmədov
(born 1941) 		6 March 1992 14 May 1992 69 days — None — [22]
Ousted by the armed revolt led by Azerbaijan Popular Front.
(21) Ayaz Mutallibov
Azerbaijani: Ayaz Mütəllibov
(1938–2022) 		14 May 1992 18 May 1992 4 days — None Mütəllibov II
Deposed from his duty after takeover by Azerbaijan Popular Front.
— Isa Gambar (acting)
Azerbaijani: İsa Qəmbər
(born 1957) 		18 May 1992 17 June 1992 30 days — Musavat
— [23]
Took temporary duties of president until the national elections in 1992.
22 Abulfaz Elchibey
Azerbaijani: Əbülfəz Elçibəy
(1938–2000) 		17 June 1992 24 June 1993 1 year, 7 days 1992 Azerbaijani Popular Front Party 23. Elçibəy I [24]
Among the Soviet republics the Russian army was first withdrawn from Azerbaijan; The national currency of Azerbaijan was put into circulation; State Treasure Foundation was established; Entrance examinations to the high and vocational educational was held with test method for the first time; The foundation of private institutions in the education field was permitted; The passage to the Latin alphabet; Founded the SOCAR; Re-established Azerbaijani Armed Forces; Operation Goranboy.
— Heydar Aliyev
Azerbaijani: Heydər Əliyev
(1923–2003) 		24 June 1993 10 October 1993 10 years, 129 days — New Azerbaijan Party 24. H.Əliyev II [25]
(18) 10 October 1993 3 October 2003 1993
3 October 1998 31 October 2003 1998
Founded the YAP; Heydar Aliyev's cult of personality; Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline; South Caucasus Pipeline; 1994 Baku Metro bombings. Survived coup attempt in 1995.
23 Ilham Aliyev
Azerbaijani: İlham Əliyev
(born 1961) 		31 October 2003 15 October 2008 20 years, 92 days 2003 New Azerbaijan Party 25. İ.Əliyev I [26]
15 October 2008 9 October 2013 2008
9 October 2013 11 April 2018 2013
11 April 2018 Incumbent 2018
Azerbaijan was elected as a non-permanent member to United Nations Security Council; foiled 2007 Baku terrorist plot; Azerbaijan State Oil Academy shooting; 2010 Mardakert skirmishes; 2011 Azerbaijani protests; Eurovision Song Contest 2012; 2013 Baku protests; 2014 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes; 2014 Nagorno-Karabakh Mil Mi-24 shootdown; 2015 European Games; 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh clashes; Baku City Circuit; 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games; 2020 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes; 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Timeline

Ilham AliyevAbulfaz ElchibeyIsa GambarYagub MammandovAyaz MutallibovAbdurrahman VazirovKamran BaghirovHeydar AliyevVali AkhundovImam MustafayevMir Teymur YaqubovMir Jafar BaghirovRuben RubenovVladimir PolonskyNikolay GikaloLevon MirzoyanRuhulla AkhundovSergey KirovGrigory KaminskyVladimir DumbadzeElena StasovaVictor NaneyshviliMirza Davud HuseynovAlimardan TopchubashovMammad Amin Rusulzade

See also

References

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  2. ^ Akhundov, Fuad. "Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan Leaders". www.azer.com. Azerbaijan International. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
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  4. ^ Черкесское имя в истории Азербайджана. maikop.bezformata.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  5. ^ Lazitch and Drachkovitch, Biographical Dictionary of the Comintern, pg. 444.
  6. ^ «ЗА УБИЙСТВОМ ГЕНЕРАЛА ДУМБАДЗЕ СТОИТ СААКАШВИЛИ». vesti.az (in Russian). Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  7. ^ Каминский Григорий Наумович. pomnipro.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2 August 2014.
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  9. ^ Ахундов Рухулла Али оглы. www.kavkaz-uzel.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  10. ^ "Moscow and the delimitation of Karabakh in the 1920s". biweekly.ada.edu.az. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  11. ^ Musayev, Ismail. "The Big Territorial Giveaway (II part)". www.visions.az. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  12. ^ "Справочник по истории Коммунистической партии и Советского Союза 1898–1991. Полонский Владимир Иванович" [Directory of history of Communist party and Soviet Union in 1898–1991]. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  13. ^ Davies, Robert William (2003). Stalin-Kaganovich correspondence, 1931–1936. Yale University Press. p. 408. ISBN 0-300-09367-5.
  14. ^ De Waal, Thomas (2003). Black garden: Armenia and Azerbaijan through peace and war. New York and London: New York University. p. 138. ISBN 0-8147-1944-9.
  15. ^ "Geo World. Leaders of Azerbaijan". Archived from the original on 23 January 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
  16. ^ "Directory of biographies. Imam Mustafayev". Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
  17. ^ Lewis Siegelbaum. "Seventeen Moments in Soviet History. 1973: Shakeup in the Republics". Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
  18. ^ Louise I. Shelley. Policing Soviet Society: The Evolution of State Control, Routledge, 1996, ISBN 0-415-10469-6, p. 88
  19. ^ Swietochowski, Tadeusz; Collins, Brian C. (1999). Historical dictionary of Azerbaijan. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, Inc. p. 30. ISBN 0-8108-3550-9.
  20. ^ Robert V. Barylski. "The Russian Federation and Eurasia's Islamic Crescent", Europe-Asia Studies, Vol. 46, No. 3. (1994), p. 397
  21. ^ "Exiled Former President Returns To Azerbaijan For Son's Funeral". www.rferl.org. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  22. ^ "Yaqub Məmmədov nurçuları Azərbaycana gətirənin adını açıqladı - MÜSAHİBƏ". publika.az (in Azerbaijani). 5 May 2014. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  23. ^ "İsa Qəmbər on adam.az". adam.az (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  24. ^ (in French) "Les liaisons dangereuses de la police turque" Archived 2013-11-05 at the Wayback Machine, Le Monde diplomatique, March 1997
  25. ^ Lewis, Paul (13 December 2003). "H.A. Aliyev, K.G.B. Officer And Azeri Leader, 80, Dies". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  26. ^ "Azerbaijan's Ilham Aliyev claims election victory". BBC News. 9 October 2013. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2014.

External links

Leaders of Azerbaijan since 1918
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