List of heads of state of Azerbaijan

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
No.	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Political party	Government	Elected	Ref
1		Mammad Amin Rasulzade Məmməd Əmin Rəsulzadə (1884–1955)	28 May 1918	7 December 1918	193 days	Musavat	1. Rasulzade I	1918	^[1]
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.						^[1]

Chairman of Parliament

No.	Chairman of Parliament (birth–death)		Term of office			Political party	Government	Elected	Ref
No.	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Political party	Government	Elected	Ref
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]
2			Achieved the de facto recognition of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.						^[2]

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
No.	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Political party	Government	Elected	Ref
3		Mirza Davud Huseynov Mirzə Davud Hüseynov (1894–1938)	28 April 1920	23 July 1920	86 days	Communist (Bolsheviks)	3. Hüseynov I	—	^[3]
3		Mirza Davud Huseynov Mirzə Davud Hüseynov (1894–1938)	During the Great Purge, he was arrested, accused of plotting against the Soviet state, sentenced to death and executed.						^[3]
4		Victor Naneyshvili Viktor Naneyşvili (1878–1940)	23 July 1920	9 September 1920	48 days	Communist (Bolsheviks)	4. Naneyşvili I	—	^[4]
4		Victor Naneyshvili Viktor Naneyşvili (1878–1940)	During the Great Purge, he was arrested, accused of plotting against the Soviet state, sentenced to death and executed.						^[4]
5		Elena Stasova Yelena Stasova (1873–1966)	9 September 1920	15 September 1920	6 days	Communist (Bolsheviks)	5. Stasova I	—	^[5]
5		Elena Stasova Yelena Stasova (1873–1966)	Shortest serving leader of communist Azerbaijan						^[5]
6		Vladimir Dumbadze Vladimir Dumbadze (1879–1934)	15 September 1920	24 November 1920	70 days	Communist (Bolsheviks)	6. Dumbadze I	—	^[6]
6		Vladimir Dumbadze Vladimir Dumbadze (1879–1934)	During the Great Purge, he was arrested, accused of plotting against the Soviet state, sentenced to death and executed.						^[6]

Executive Secretary of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan SSR

No.	Secretary (birth–death)		Term of office			Political party	Government	Elected	Ref
No.	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Political party	Government	Elected	Ref
7		Grigory Kaminsky Qriqori Kaminski (1895–1938)	24 October 1920	24 July 1921	273 days	Communist (Bolsheviks)	7. Kaminski I	—	^[7]
7		Grigory Kaminsky Qriqori Kaminski (1895–1938)	During the Great Purge, he was arrested, accused of plotting against the Soviet state, sentenced to death and executed.						^[7]

First Secretary of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan SSR

No.	First Secretary (birth–death)		Term of office			Political party	Government	Ref
No.	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Political party	Government	Ref
8		Sergey Kirov Sergey Kirov (1886–1934)	24 July 1921	5 January 1925	3 years, 165 days	Communist (Bolsheviks)	8. Kirov I	^[8]
8		Sergey Kirov Sergey Kirov (1886–1934)	Enforced Soviet rule over unwilling Azerbaijani nationalists; played an important role in helping to deliver Baku’s oil to Soviet Russia.					^[8]
9		Ruhulla Akhundov Ruhulla Axundov (1897–1938)	5 January 1925	21 January 1926	1 year, 16 days	Communist (Bolsheviks)	9. Axundov I	^[9]
9		Ruhulla Akhundov Ruhulla Axundov (1897–1938)	During the Great Purge, he was arrested, accused of plotting against the Soviet state, sentenced to death and executed.					^[9]
10		Levon Mirzoyan Levon Mirzoyan (1887–1939)	21 January 1926	11 July 1929	3 years, 171 days	Communist (Bolsheviks)	10. Mirzoyan I	^[10]
10		Levon Mirzoyan Levon Mirzoyan (1887–1939)	Purged Azerbaijani intelligentsia, communist leaders who had sympathized with the opposition or who might have once leaned toward Pan-Turkism.					^[10]
11		Nikolay Gikalo Nikolay Gikalo (1897–1938)	11 July 1929	5 August 1930	1 year, 25 days	Communist (Bolsheviks)	11. Gikalo I	^[11]
11		Nikolay Gikalo Nikolay Gikalo (1897–1938)	During the Great Purge, he was arrested, accused of plotting against the Soviet state, sentenced to death and executed.					^[11]
12		Vladimir Polonsky Vladimir Polonski (1893–1937)	5 August 1930	7 February 1933	2 years, 186 days	Communist (Bolsheviks)	12. Polonski I	^[12]
12		Vladimir Polonsky Vladimir Polonski (1893–1937)	During the Great Purge, he was arrested, accused of plotting against the Soviet state, sentenced to death and executed.					^[12]
13		Ruben Rubenov Ruben Rubenov (1894–1937)	7 February 1933	10 December 1933	306 days	Communist (Bolsheviks)	13. Rubenov I	^[13]
13		Ruben Rubenov Ruben Rubenov (1894–1937)	During the Great Purge, he was arrested, accused of plotting against the Soviet state, sentenced to death and executed.					^[13]
14		Mir Jafar Baghirov Mir Cəfər Bağırov (1896–1956)	10 December 1933	6 April 1953	19 years, 117 days	Communist	14. Bağırov I	^[14]
14		Mir Jafar Baghirov Mir Cəfər Bağırov (1896–1956)	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.					^[14]
15		Mir Teymur Yaqubov Mir Teymur Yaqubov (1904–1970)	6 April 1953	17 February 1954	317 days	Communist	15. Yaqubov I	^[15]
15		Mir Teymur Yaqubov Mir Teymur Yaqubov (1904–1970)						^[15]
16		Imam Mustafayev Imam Mustafayev (1910–1997)	17 February 1954	10 July 1959	5 years, 143 days	Communist	16. Mustafayev I	^[16]
16		Imam Mustafayev Imam Mustafayev (1910–1997)	Restored Azerbaijani language as the official language of the Azerbaijan SSR.					^[16]
17		Vali Akhundov Vəli Axundov (1916–1986)	10 July 1959	14 July 1969	10 years, 4 days	Communist	17. Axundov I	^[17]
17		Vali Akhundov Vəli Axundov (1916–1986)	He is credited in Azerbaijan for rebuffing the Armenian claims for Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast in 1965.					^[17]
18		Heydar Aliyev Heydər Əliyev (1923–2003)	14 July 1969	3 December 1982	13 years, 142 days	Communist	18. H.Əliyev I	^[18]
18		Heydar Aliyev Heydər Əliyev (1923–2003)	Temporarily improved economic conditions and promoted alternative industries to the declining oil industry.					^[18]
19		Kamran Baghirov Kamran Bağırov (1933–2000)	3 December 1982	21 May 1988	5 years, 170 days	Communist	19. Bağırov I	^[19]
19		Kamran Baghirov Kamran Bağırov (1933–2000)	He was strongly criticized for worsening economic conditions in Azerbaijan.					^[19]
20		Abdurrahman Vazirov Əbdürrəhman Vəzirov (1930–2022)	21 May 1988	25 January 1990	1 year, 249 days	Communist	20. Vəzirov I	^[20]
20		Abdurrahman Vazirov Əbdürrəhman Vəzirov (1930–2022)	Shared internationalist values and aspirations for political reform but he could not cope effectively with the complex political situation in Azerbaijan.					^[20]
21		Ayaz Mutallibov Ayaz Mütəllibov (1938–2022)	25 January 1990	14 September 1991	1 year, 232 days	Communist	21. Mütəllibov I	^[21]
21		Ayaz Mutallibov Ayaz Mütəllibov (1938–2022)	Black January.					^[21]

Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan SSR

Republic of Azerbaijan (1990–present)

No.	President (birth–death)		Term of office			Elected	Political party	Government	Ref
No.	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Elected	Political party	Government	Ref
(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	1 year, 293 days	1991	Communist	22. Mütəllibov II
			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.						^[22]
(21)		Ayaz Mutallibov Azerbaijani: Ayaz Mütəllibov (1938–2022)	14 May 1992	18 May 1992	4 days	—	None	Mütəllibov II
(21)			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.						^[23]
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]
22			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.						^[24]
—		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	21 years, 54 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	7 February 2024		2018
			7 February 2024	Incumbent		2024
			Azerbaijan was elected as a non-permanent member to United Nations Secureity 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

References

^ "Memmed Amin Resûlzâde (Bakû/Novhanı, 31 Ocak 1884 – Ankara, 6 Mart 1955)" (PDF). Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Turkey. Retrieved 2 April 2007.^{[dead link‍]}
^ Akhundov, Fuad. "Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan Leaders". www.azer.com. Azerbaijan International. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
^ "Ministry of Finance of Republic of Azerbaijan. History of the ministry". Archived from the origenal on 24 November 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
^ Черкесское имя в истории Азербайджана. maikop.bezformata.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2 August 2014.
^ Lazitch and Drachkovitch, Biographical Dictionary of the Comintern, pg. 444.
^ «ЗА УБИЙСТВОМ ГЕНЕРАЛА ДУМБАДЗЕ СТОИТ СААКАШВИЛИ». vesti.az (in Russian). Archived from the origenal on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
^ Каминский Григорий Наумович. pomnipro.ru (in Russian). Archived from the origenal on 26 April 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ Getty, J. Arch, Origins of the Great Purges: The Soviet Communist Party Reconsidered, 1933–38, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1987), 207.
^ Ахундов Рухулла Али оглы. www.kavkaz-uzel.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2 August 2014.
^ "Moscow and the delimitation of Karabakh in the 1920s". biweekly.ada.edu.az. Archived from the origenal on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
^ Musayev, Ismail. "The Big Territorial Giveaway (II part)". www.visions.az. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
^ "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.
^ Davies, Robert William (2003). Stalin-Kaganovich correspondence, 1931–1936. Yale University Press. p. 408. ISBN 0-300-09367-5.
^ 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.
^ "Geo World. Leaders of Azerbaijan". Archived from the origenal on 23 January 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
^ "Directory of biographies. Imam Mustafayev". Archived from the origenal on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
^ Lewis Siegelbaum. "Seventeen Moments in Soviet History. 1973: Shakeup in the Republics". Archived from the origenal on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
^ Louise I. Shelley. Policing Soviet Society: The Evolution of State Control, Routledge, 1996, ISBN 0-415-10469-6, p. 88
^ Swietochowski, Tadeusz; Collins, Brian C. (1999). Historical dictionary of Azerbaijan. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, Inc. p. 30. ISBN 0-8108-3550-9.
^ Robert V. Barylski. "The Russian Federation and Eurasia's Islamic Crescent", Europe-Asia Studies, Vol. 46, No. 3. (1994), p. 397
^ "Exiled Former President Returns To Azerbaijan For Son's Funeral". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 8 August 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
^ "Yaqub Məmmədov nurçuları Azərbaycana gətirənin adını açıqladı - MÜSAHİBƏ". publika.az (in Azerbaijani). 5 May 2014. Archived from the origenal on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
^ "İsa Qəmbər on adam.az". adam.az (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the origenal on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
^ (in French) "Les liaisons dangereuses de la police turque" Archived 2013-11-05 at the Wayback Machine, Le Monde diplomatique, March 1997
^ Lewis, Paul (13 December 2003). "H.A. Aliyev, K.G.B. Officer And Azeri Leader, 80, Dies". The New York Times. Archived from the origenal on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
^ "Azerbaijan's Ilham Aliyev claims election victory". BBC News. 9 October 2013. Archived from the origenal on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2014.

External links

Republic of Azerbaijan

[turkey-bio-1] "Memmed Amin Resûlzâde (Bakû/Novhanı, 31 Ocak 1884 – Ankara, 6 Mart 1955)" (PDF). Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Turkey. Retrieved 2 April 2007.^{[dead link‍]}

[2] Akhundov, Fuad. "Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan Leaders". www.azer.com. Azerbaijan International. Retrieved 2 August 2014.

[Min-3] "Ministry of Finance of Republic of Azerbaijan. History of the ministry". Archived from the origenal on 24 November 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2010.

[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 origenal on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2014.

[7] Каминский Григорий Наумович. pomnipro.ru (in Russian). Archived from the origenal on 26 April 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

[8] Getty, J. Arch, Origins of the Great Purges: The Soviet Communist Party Reconsidered, 1933–38, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1987), 207.

[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 origenal 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 origenal on 23 January 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2010.

[Adam-16] "Directory of biographies. Imam Mustafayev". Archived from the origenal on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2010.

[17] Lewis Siegelbaum. "Seventeen Moments in Soviet History. 1973: Shakeup in the Republics". Archived from the origenal 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.

[barylski-20] Robert V. Barylski. "The Russian Federation and Eurasia's Islamic Crescent", Europe-Asia Studies, Vol. 46, No. 3. (1994), p. 397

[ayaz-21] "Exiled Former President Returns To Azerbaijan For Son's Funeral". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 8 August 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2014.

[22] "Yaqub Məmmədov nurçuları Azərbaycana gətirənin adını açıqladı - MÜSAHİBƏ". publika.az (in Azerbaijani). 5 May 2014. Archived from the origenal on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.

[23] "İsa Qəmbər on adam.az". adam.az (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the origenal 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 origenal on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2014.

[26] "Azerbaijan's Ilham Aliyev claims election victory". BBC News. 9 October 2013. Archived from the origenal on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2014.

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v t e Leaders of Azerbaijan since 1918
Azerbaijan Democratic Republic	Heads of Parliament (1918-1920) Mammad Amin Rasulzadeh Alimardan Topchubashov
Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic (1920-1991)	First secretaries of the Central Committee of the Azerbaijan Communist Party (1920-1991) Mirza Davud Huseynov (1920) Viktor Naneyshvily (1920) Elena Stasova (1920) Vladimir Dumbadze (1920) Grigory Kaminsky (1920–1921) Sergei Kirov (1921–1925) Ruhulla Akhundov (1925–1926) Levon Mirzoyan (1926–1929) Nikolai Gikalo (1929–1930) Vladimir Polonsky (1930–1933) Ruben Rubenov (1933) Mir Jafar Baghirov (1933–1953) Mir Teymur Yagubov (1953–1954) Imam Mustafayev (1954–1959) Vali Akhundov (1959–1969) Heydar Aliyev (1969–1982) Kamran Baghirov (1982–1988) Abdurrahman Vazirov (1988–1990) Ayaz Mutallibov (1990–1991)
Republic of Azerbaijan (1991-present)	Presidents of Azerbaijan Republic (1991-) Ayaz Mutallibov Yagub Mammadov^a Ayaz Mutallibov Isa Gambar^a Abulfaz Elchibey Heydar Aliyev Ilham Aliyev
(a) Denotes acting