The Prominent Fiqures

Heydar Aliyev

The National Lider of Azerbaijan Heydar Alirza oglu Aliyev was born on 10 May 1923 in the city of Nakhchivan of Azerbaijan Republic. In 1939, after graduating from the Nakhchivan Pedagogical School he studied at the architectural department of the Azerbaijan Industrial Institute (now the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy). The incipient war impeded to complete his education.
Since 1941, Heydar Aliyev heads the department at the People Commissariat of Internal Affairs of Nakhchivan ASSR and on 1944 was sent to work at the state security bodies. Heydar Aliyev, working since that time in the security bodies, since 1964 held the post of deputy chairman, and since 1967 – chairman of the Committee of State Security under the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan Republic, and he was conferred the rank of lieutenant general. In these years, he received special higher education in Leningrad (now St Petersburg), and in 1957, he graduated from the history department of Azerbaijan State University.
Being elected at the Plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan in July 1969 as the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev heads the Republic. In December 1982, Heydar Aliyev has been elected as Alternate member of Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Soviet Union, and appointed at the post of the First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the USSR and became one of the leaders of the USSR. During twenty years, Heydar Aliyev was the Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and for five years was Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
In October 1987, Heydar Aliyev, as a sign of protest against the policy pursued by Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and personally the Secretary General Michael Gorbachev, resigned from his post.
In bound with the tragedy, committed on 20 January 1990 in Baku by the soviet troops, appearing on the next day at the Azerbaijan Representation in Moscow with a statement, demanded to punish the organizers and executors of the crime, committed against the people of Azerbaijan. As a sign of protest against the hypocritical policy of leadership of the USSR, in connection with the critical conflict accrued in Nagorno Karabakh, in July 1991, he left the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
By return in July 1990 to Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev has lived at first in Baku, then in Nakhchivan, and on the same year he was elected as the Deputy to the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan. In 1991-1993s, he held the post of Chairman of the Supreme Mejlis of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In 1992, at the constituent congress of the "Yeni Azerbaijan" Party in Nakhchivan, Heydar Aliyev, was elected as the Chairman of the Party.
In May-June 1993, when, as the result of extreme tension of the governmental crisis, the country was at the verge of civil war and loss of independence, the people of Azerbaijan demanded to bring to power Heydar Aliyev. The then leaders of Azerbaijan were obliged to officially invite Heydar Aliyev to Baku. On 15 June 1993, Heydar Aliyev was elected as the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan, and on 24 July - on resolution of the Milli Mejlis, he managed to fulfill powers of the President of Azerbaijan Republic.
On October 3, 1993, as the result of nationwide voting, Heydar Aliyev was elected as the President of Azerbaijan Republic. On October 11, 1998, having garnered at the elections, passed in high activeness of the population, 76,1 percent of the votes, he was re-elected as the President of Azerbaijan Republic. Heydar Aliyev, giving his consent to be nominated as a candidate at the 15 October 2003 presidential elections, Heydar Aliyev relinquished to run at the elections in connection with health problems.
On December 12 national leader of Azerbaijan, President Heydar Aliyev passed away in Cleveland hospital in the United States of America.
Azerbaijani national leader Heydar Aliyev passed away on December 12, 2003 in Cleveland hospital in the United States.
Heydar Aliyev was awarded the Lenin’s Order four times, Order of the Red Star and many other medals, was named the Hero of Socialist Labour twice and awarded with orders and medals of many foreign countries. He has also received orders and medals of many international awards, was elected as an honorary doctor of universities in different countries.
Heydar Alirza oglu Aliyev's spouse, Zarifa Aziz qizi Aliyeva (1923-1985), was a renowned ophthalmologist, Doctor of Medical Sciences, professor, and an academician of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. His son, Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev, was elected President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2003, 2008, 2013, and 2024.

Zarifa Aliyeva

Zarifa Aziz gizi Aliyeva, Honored Scientist of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Doctor of Medical Sciences, and Academician of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, was born on April 28, 1923, in the Shahtakhti village of the Sharur district. She is the daughter of Aziz Aliyev and the spouse of Heydar Aliyev. She graduated from the Azerbaijan State Medical Institute (present Azerbaijan Medical University) in 1947. Zarifa Aliyeva worked as a scientific researcher at the Azerbaijan Scientific-Research Institute of Ophthalmology and, since 1969, served as an associate professor, professor, and head of the Laboratory of Occupational Pathology of the Visual Organs at the Azerbaijan Institute of Advanced Medical Studies named after A. Aliyev. She also held the position of head of the Department of Ophthalmology from 1982 to 1985. Zarifa Aliyeva made exceptional contributions to the development of ophthalmology science in Azerbaijan. She was one of the authors of numerous significant studies, including rare scientific works such as "Therapeutic Ophthalmology" and "Fundamentals of Iridodiagnosis," which addressed the study, prevention, and treatment of eye diseases related to occupational activities, particularly in the chemical and electronic industries. Her research also covered contemporary issues in ophthalmology. She authored 12 monographs, textbooks, and teaching aids, nearly 150 scientific papers, one invention, and 12 rationalization proposals. Zarifa Aliyeva made remarkable contributions to the training of highly skilled healthcare professionals. She was a distinguished member of the Presidium of the All-Union Society of Ophthalmologists, the Soviet Peace Defense Committee, the Board of the Azerbaijan Ophthalmology Society, and the editorial board of the journal Vestnik Oftalmologa (Moscow). In recognition of her exceptional scientific achievements, she was honored with the M. I. Averbakh Prize by the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences in 1981.
Zarifa Aliyeva passed away on April 15, 1985, in Moscow. In 1994, her grave was transferred from the Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow to Baku, where she was laid to rest in the Alley of Honor, alongside her father's grave. A bronze monument was erected on her grave. The Institute of Eye Diseases in Baku, Nakhchivan City Polyclinic, and a street in Nakhchivan bear her name. Furthermore, a park named after her has been established in the Binagadi district of Baku.

Abulfaz Elchibey

Abulfaz Gadirgulu oglu Aliyev (Elchibey) was born in 1938 in the village of Kalaki, Ordubad district. He was an orientalist scholar, statesman, political figure, and held a PhD in History. In 1962, he graduated from the Faculty of Oriental Studies at Azerbaijan State University.
From 1962 to 1963, Elchibey worked as a translator at the Baku branch of the Moscow Institute of Hydrology. Between 1963 and 1964, he served as a translator during the construction of the Aswan Dam in Egypt. From 1965 to 1968, he studied in the postgraduate program at Azerbaijan State University (ADU), and from 1968 to 1975, he taught there. In 1975, he was arrested by the State Security Committee (KGB) for conducting anti-Soviet propaganda.
After being released from prison in 1976, he remained unemployed for a while. From 1977 to 1992, he worked first as a junior, then as a senior researcher at the Institute of Manuscripts of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences. From his student years, Abulfaz Aliyev was a steadfast fighter for Azerbaijan's independence from the Soviet Empire. Because of his stance, he became very popular among Azerbaijani youth. In 1989, after the founding of the political organization known as the Azerbaijan Popular Front, he became its chairman. In June 1992, he was elected President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. A year later, following an uprising in Ganja, he stepped away from power and returned to his native village of Kalaki. He returned to Baku in 1997 and spent the final years of his life leading the opposition Popular Front Party.
Abulfaz Elchibey passed away on August 22, 2000, in Ankara and was buried in the Alley of Honor in Baku.

Ahmad Mahmudov

Ahmad Akbar oglu Mahmudov (May 25, 1928, Shahtakhti village, Kangarli district – May 8, 1989, Baku) was an economist. He held a Doctor of Economic Sciences degree (1968), became a professor (1969), and was elected a full member (academician) of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (1983; corresponding member since 1972). He graduated from the Accounting and Statistics Faculty of the Azerbaijan State Institute of National Economy (now University of Economics) in 1950, and from the postgraduate program of the Economics Department of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (now the Institute of Economics) in 1954. Mahmudov worked at the Institute of Economics of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences as a senior researcher (1956–1958), deputy director (1958–1964), and director (from 1964 until his death). He also served as the deputy academic secretary of the Department of History, Economics, Philosophy, and Law of the Academy (1981–1985). His research focused on political economy, the economics of agro-industrial complexes, the economic problems of intensifying social production, and particularly the theoretical foundations and methodology for the intensification of agriculture in Azerbaijan, including the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. He developed systems of indicators and methods for measuring the level of intensification, as well as its sources and characteristics. He authored several books and monographs and over 150 scientific articles. Mahmudov was a member of several prestigious academic councils, including the Republic State Awards Committee on Science and Technology, and chaired the specialized council for awarding academic degrees in economics (1976–1988) at the Institute of Economics. He made significant contributions to the training of scientific personnel. He was awarded the silver medal of the former USSR Exhibition of National Economic Achievements and received the 2nd class "Patriotic War" Order, along with other state honors and medals.
Ahmad Mahmudov was buried in the Alley of Honor.

Ajami Nakhchivani

Ajami Abubakr oglu Nakhchivani was a prominent Azerbaijani architect and the founder of the Nakhchivan school of architecture. He introduced a new direction in medieval Azerbaijani architecture, enriching the rather heavy and rigid style of the Seljuk period with elegance and dynamism through his artistic genius. His work had a profound influence on the architecture of the Near East. The great minds of the East honored him with the title "Sheikh al-Muhandis" (Master of Engineers).
Ajami's creative work was closely associated with Nakhchivan, the capital of the powerful Atabeys state of Azerbaijan in the 12th century. His earliest known architectural monument is the Yusif ibn Kuseyr Tomb, located in the center of Nakhchivan and popularly known as the “Atababa Dome.” The tomb was built in 1162. An inscription on the left side of the entrance portal bears the architect's name: “The work of builder Ajami Abubakr oglu Nakhchivani.” One of the tallest and most refined mausoleums not only in Azerbaijan but in the entire Islamic world, the Momina Khatun Mausoleum, was built by Ajami in 1186 in the western part of Nakhchivan. Known among the people as the “Atabey Dome,” it was erected in honor of Momina Khatun, the spouse of Atabey Shamsaddin Eldaniz and mother of Mahammad Jahan Pahlavan. Ajami’s architectural legacy had a profound influence on the development of architecture in Azerbaijan and throughout the Near East. His stylistic traditions are reflected in a number of significant monuments, including the Blue Dome in Maragha (1196), the Gulustan Tomb near Nakhchivan (13th century), the Garabaghlar Mausoleum (12th–14th centuries), as well as the Barda and Selma Mausoleums (16th century). The influence of Ajami’s school can also be traced in the works of the great Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, particularly in the tombs he designed in Istanbul during the 16th century. In 1926, when a monument was erected over the grave of Nizami Ganjavi in Ganja, Ajami’s heritage served as a source of inspiration. The Nizami Mausoleum was constructed in the spirit of Ajami’s architectural genius.
The novel "One tenth of the century" by Huseyn Ibrahimov and the play "He was a son of our mountains" by Kamala are dedicated to Ajami. In 1976, the 850th anniversary of his birth was widely celebrated. A bust of Ajami Nakhchivani was erected in the city of Nakhchivan.
One of the stations of the Baku Metro was named "Memar Ajami" ("Architect Ajami") in honor of Ajami Abubakr oglu Nakhchivani.

Ali Abbasov

Ali Mahammad oglu Abbasov was born on January 1, 1953, in Nakhchivan city. In 1976, he graduated from the Moscow Power Engineering Institute with a degree in "Automation and Telemechanics." He earned the academic degree of Candidate of Technical Sciences in 1981, Doctor of Technical Sciences in 1994, and was awarded the title of Professor in 1996. In 2001, he was elected a full member (academician) of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS).
He began his scientific career in 1976 at the Institute of Cybernetics of ANAS, where he held various positions, including head of the Laboratory in the Department of Automated Control Systems, (1982–1988), chief engineer (1988–1992), and director (1992–1997). Later, he served as the director of the Scientific Center for Information and Telecommunications of ANAS (1997–2000), rector of the Azerbaijan State University of Economics (2000–2004), and Minister of Communications and High Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2004–2015). In 2017, Ə. Abbasov was appointed as an advisor to the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), and in 2020, he became the director of the ANAS High Technologies Park. Since 2021, he has been serving as the Director General of the Institute of Control Systems.
The academician, known for his extensive scientific and political activity, served as a Member of the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) of the Republic of Azerbaijan from 2000 to 2004 and was a member of the Azerbaijani delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). He became a member of the New Azerbaijan Party in January 1993 and served on the Party’s Political Council from 2001 to 2021.
Ali Abbasov has made significant contributions to the development of Azerbaijani science and its international recognition over many years, successfully representing the country on the global stage. He is a full member of the International Academy of Sciences, the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), the International Informatization Academy, and the International Academy of Engineering. He is also an honorary doctor of five foreign universities and a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Academician Abbasov played a leading role in the creation of Azerbaijan's Internet infrastructure. He has served as the implementer and head of the national automated control systems project, as well as of specialized computer and information systems of national importance. He was also the national coordinator for EARN and internet networks, the liaison for Azerbaijan in NATO’s Science Committee, and represented the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Trans-European Research and Education Networking Association (TERENA). Throughout his career, he has led a number of important projects such as the “Development of Science and Education Internet Network,” “Establishment of Distance Learning System in the Republic,” “Virtual Silk Way,” “Special Talented Group,” and several others.
The prominent scientist has achieved remarkable results—recognized by relevant UN bodies—in accelerating the transition to an information society in Azerbaijan and shaping the digital economy. His contributions include the implementation of new technologies, e-government solutions, the development of broadband network services, and the enhancement of human resources in the field of ICT. He has led several major national and regional projects, such as the “Trans-Eurasian Super Information Highway”, the “Regional Innovation Zone”, and the “Azerspace – Telecommunications and Earth Observation Satellites” initiatives.
The academician is the author of more than 280 scientific works, including 16 monographs, 2 dictionaries, 7 textbooks, and 11 patents. He has been an organizer of numerous international conferences held in Azerbaijan and is one of the chief editors of the high-impact factor (IF 7.4) scientific journal “Applied and Computational Mathematics”.
In 2012, Academician A. Abbasov was awarded the Order of Glory (“Shohrat”) by the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, in recognition of his effective contributions to the field of information and communication technologies in the country. He has also been conferred the honorary doctorate title by several prestigious institutions, including Pannonia University, Moscow Power Engineering University, Odessa National Academy of Telecommunications, and the Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics.

Arif Hashimov

Arif Mammad oglu Hashimov (born on September 28, 1949, in Shahbuz, Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic) is a well-known scientist in the energy field, academician, Honored Scientist, and State Prize Laureate. In 1971 he graduated from the Energy Department of the Azerbaijan Institute of Oil and Chemistry with a degree in electrical engineering. In 2002, he was appointed director of the Institute of Physics and served in this position until 2009. In 2007-2013, he was the first vice president of ANAS. He is the head of the Laboratory of High Voltage Physics and Engineering at the Institute of Physics of ANAS, as well as the director of the Scientific Research and Design Institute of Azerenerji OJSC.
The academician conducted scientific research in the field of physical and technical problems of energy, which is one of the most important areas of modern science. Under his leadership, Detection and prevention of Ferro resonance processes in voltage transformers and capacitive voltage dividers of 110-500 kV switchgear was developed. At the same time, work was carried out to identify mechanisms and develop the scientific foundations of the physicochemical processes occurring on the surface and in the volume of dielectric materials under the influence of strong electric fields and discharges, as well as a study of the physics of gaseous, liquid, and solid dielectrics. In 1978, A. Hashimov was awarded the State Prize for co-authorship in a comprehensive work in the field of neutral modes of high-voltage electric networks. Before the advent of modern computers, the academician developed algorithms for calculating wave processes in complex electrical circuits, which made it possible to conduct many studies of mathematical models of short circuit currents, recovery, and limiting the extreme stresses of the Ferro zone.
Arif Hashimov is the author of more than 310 scientific articles, dozens of patented inventions and 5 monographs. He was awarded the title of Honored Scientist in 2005.

Asaf Nadirov

Asaf Abbasgulu oglu Nadirov (born March 13, 1930, in Jalilkand village, Sharur District – died March 14, 2014, in Baku) - an economist, Doctor of Economic Sciences (PhD) (1968), Professor (1970), Academician of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (1980), Honored Scientist of the Republic of Azerbaijan (1990). He graduated from Azerbaijan State University (present Baku State University) in 1951 and completed his postgraduate studies at the Institute of Economics of the USSR Academy of Sciences in 1956. In 1958-1992, A. Nadirov held the position of head of a department at the Institute of Economy of the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, in 1964-1981 - Deputy Director for Research at this institute. In 1981-1998 he was a member of the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, deputy chairman of the Specialized Council for Protection under the Institute of Economics of the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan (1980-1989) and chairman (1990-1998). The primary focus of A. Nadirov’s scientific work was on the development of industry, specifically addressing the effective location and improvement of its structure. His research revealed that the republic possesses substantial opportunities for the effective development of silk production and the silk industry, along with a population that has significant experience in production and established historical traditions. For the first time in Azerbaijan, a scientist proposed the idea of sugar production and highlighted its potential importance in strengthening the forage base of livestock. For many years A. Nadirov represented Azerbaijani science at international conferences and symposiums held in the republics of the former Union and in several foreign countries (France, China, India, Türkiye, Iran, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Belgium, etc.). He was a member of the Scientific Council on Regional Economics of the USSR Academy of Sciences (1986–1992), the Board of the All- Union "Knowledge" Society (1982–1992), the Soviet Peace Defense Committee (1985–1992), and the State Awards Committee of Azerbaijan (1983–1992). He also played a significant role in training highly qualified specialists. Asaf Nadirov was awarded the high state orders of the Republic of Azerbaijan: the “Sharaf” (Order of Honor) in 2009 and the “Shohrat” (Order of Glory) in 2004.

Aziz Sharif

Abdulaziz Mashadi Gurbanali oglu Sharifzadeh (Aziz Sharif) (28 March 1895, Nakhchivan – 28 May 1998, Moscow; interred in Nakhchivan) was a prominent literary scholar, critic, translator, educator, and publicist. He held the degree of Doctor of Philological Sciences (1958), was awarded the academic title of Professor (1962), and was recognized as an Honoured Scientist of the Republic of Azerbaijan (1963). He commenced his formal education at the “Tarbiya” school in Nakhchivan (1901–1904), subsequently continuing his studies at private boarding schools and gymnasiums in Tiflis and Iravan (1904–1915). In 1915, he enrolled at the Moscow Commercial Institute; however, due to familial circumstances, he was compelled to withdraw in his second year (1917). He later completed his higher education at the Maxim Gorky Institute of Literature in Moscow, graduating in 1943. While still a student, he became involved in political movements. In 1918, he joined the Social-Democratic "Hummat" Party. He was a member of the Social-Democratic faction in the Transcaucasian Seim (1918) and worked at the Land Administration in the Borchali district (1919). He was dispatched to Iravan to engage in propaganda during the pre-election campaign. Aziz Sharif served as editor of the newspapers "Galajak" (1918–1919) and "Probuzhdeniye" (1918), both published by the "Hummat" Party in Tiflis. During the Soviet era, he worked in the press and publishing sector in Tiflis and served as an advisor at the Transcaucasian Central Executive Committee from 1920 to 1935. He worked as a lecturer at the Tiflis Teachers' Institute and later served as a senior research fellow at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR and at the Maxim Gorky Institute of World Literature (1950–1961). From 1962 to 1988, he was a professor at the Department of the Literatures of the Peoples of the USSR at Lomonosov Moscow State University and headed the department from 1960 to 1964. Aziz Sharif began his literary activity in 1906 with the publication of “Letters from Nakhchivan” in the satirical journal "Molla Nasraddin". His scholarly interests encompassed the study of classical and contemporary Azerbaijani literature, literary criticism, artistic translation, and journalism. He authored a number of influential works published in Baku and Moscow, including "Molla Nasraddin" (1946), "The Life and Work of Sabir" (in Russian, 1951), "Vagif as a Hymner of Love and Beauty" (in Russian, 1968), "My Father and I" (1983), "Days Gone By" (in two volumes, 1977–1986), "How Molla Nasraddin came to be?" (1986), and "Findings" (1987). He translated into Russian the works of prominent Azerbaijani writers such as Mirza Fatali Akhundov, Jalil Mammadguluzadeh, Najaf bey Vazirov, Abdurrahim bey Hagverdiyev, Jafar Jabbarli, Suleyman Rahimov, Mirza Ibrahimov, and Mir Jalal. Likewise, he translated into Azerbaijani the works of Russian and some Georgian authors, often working from the original language.

 

Bahruz Kangarli

Kangarli Bahruz (Shamil) Shiralibey oglu (22.1.1892, city of Nakhchivan – 7.2.1922, city of Nakhchivan) was an artist, painter and graphic artist. The formation of realist worktable painting and the formation of portrait and landscape as an independent genre in Azerbaijan painting is directly related with Kangarli’s name. When he was a child, he survived from a serious disease and could hardly hear; therefore, he could not go to school and displayed his interest in drawing and drew the things that he saw on the paper with his child fantasy. He studied at the School of Painting and Sculpture attached to the Caucasus Art Promotion Society in Tbilisi (1910-1915). A rich literary heritage of Kangarli remains. He drew a lot of portraits, landscapes, still live works, etc. that became attracted with its realist expressions and high literary-esthetic value. His portraits of the present popular educated figures and simple people’s (“Old man”, “Georgian” etc.) differs with subject topicality and the aliveness and reality of the portraits of a man, woman, boy and a girl who belong to the group of “Refugees” and its psychological expression, which is one of the important issues of present social-political issues. The landscapes contain great part in his creative activity. The natural beauties (“Waterfall”, “Mountainous View”, Ilanlidag in the moonlight”, “Sunset”, “Aghridagh”, “Old fortress”, “Gate in Aliabad village”, “Way to Yamkhana village”, “Ashabi-kahf mountain”, etc.), the cultural monuments (“Momuna Khatun Tomb”), the seasons (“Autumn”, “Spring”) are reflected in his landscapes. In 1921, at the first great exhibition in Azerbaijan, Kangarli’s more than 500 works were exhibited. His works are kept at the State Art Museum of Azerbaijan, the Nakhchivan State Museum of History, Moscow State Museum of History, and private collections. His museum was created in Nakhchivan based on the decision of the Supreme Assembly of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic about “The memorization of Bahruz Kangarli’s name” (May 22, 2001).

Behdud agha Shahtakhtinski

Shahtakhtinski Behbud agha Aliagha oglu (1881, Shahtakhti village, Kangarli district – 30 May 1924, Tbilisi) was a diplomat. From 1905 to 1907, he participated in the establishment and activities of the Union of Office Workers in Baku. Between 1917 and 1918, he served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Baku Soviet, the Extraordinary Commission of the Baku Council of People's Commissars, and as the Chairman of the Central Committee of the "Hummat" organization. Following the establishment of Soviet power in Azerbaijan in 1920, he held the position of People's Commissar of Justice and simultaneously served as the Extraordinary Representative of the Azerbaijan SSR in the RSFSR. In July to September 1920, he submitted a detailed report to V. I. Lenin on Azerbaijan and the situation in the Caucasus, Türkiye, and Iran. The treaty on the military-economic alliance between the RSFSR and the Azerbaijan SSR was signed by V. I. Lenin and B. Shahtahtinski on September 30, 1920. He was elected as a delegate to the 2nd Congress of the Comintern. From 1921 to 1924, he held positions such as Chairman of the Nakhchivan Revolutionary Committee, Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the Nakhchivan ASSR, People's Commissar of the Workers' and Peasants' Inspectorate of the Azerbaijan SSR, and Deputy Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars. Shahtakhtinski played a significant role in concluding the Moscow and Kars treaties, which were crucial in granting autonomous status to the Nakhchivan region within Azerbaijan. His actions in Moscow on behalf of Nariman Narimanov regarding the Nakhchivan issue and his approach during the Russia–Türkiye negotiations positively influenced the granting of autonomous status to Nakhchivan as an inseparable part of Azerbaijan.

Ehsan khan Kangarli

Kangarli Ehsan khan Kalbali Khan oglu (born in Nakhchivan – date and place of death unknown) was the last khan of Nakhchivan. He was the son of Kalbali khan Kangarli and the father of Ismayil khan Nakhchivanski, Kalbali khan Nakhchivanski, and Goncha Bayim. During the 1826–1828 Russo-Persian War, Ehsan khan Kangarli, who was one of the military commanders of the Abbasabad fortress garrison and held the rank of colonel in the Persian army, defected to the Russian side and assisted them in capturing the fortress. According to historical sources, Ehsan Khan commanded an army of ten thousand troops composed of locals from Nakhchivan and Russians. After the northern part of Azerbaijan was annexed by Russia, Ehsan khan Kangarli was awarded the rank of Major General and, as the authorized representative of the Iravan and Nakhchivan Khanates and the Ordubad district, he signed the Treaty of Turkmenchay in 1828. After the abolition of the khanate, he was appointed as the first naib (deputy governor) of the Nakhchivan region. Ehsan khan placed great importance on development, construction, and secular education. He had water springs dug in the village of Cheshmebasar, brought water to the village of Nehram via a tunnel passing through a hill near the village of Arazin, and established the first Russian-Tatar (Azerbaijani) district school in Nakhchivan. In 1840, he resigned from his post as naib on the condition that he would lead a cavalry unit. He later fought valiantly in the Crimean War (1853–1856) and was awarded the Order of Saint George. Notably, A. Bakikhanov and A. S. Griboyedov were hosted at Ehsan khan Kangarli’s palace on Khan Dagi (Khan Hill) on their way to Iran. Griboyedov mentioned this visit in his travel notes "March to Iravan". Ehsan khan Kangarli’s name is inscribed in golden letters in the Georgievsky Hall of the Kremlin.

Eldar Salayev

Salayev Eldar Yunus oglu was born on December 31, 1933, in Nakhchivan city. In 1956, he graduated from the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics at Azerbaijan State University. He earned his PhD in Physics in 1963, became a Doctor of Physical Sciences in 1975, was awarded the academic title of Professor in 1979, became a corresponding member of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences in 1980, and a full member in 1983.
Eldar Salayev began his career at the Institute of Physics of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), where he served as a junior researcher, scientific secretary, head of laboratory, and deputy director for scientific affairs. He later became director of the Scientific-Research Institute of Applied Physics under the USSR Ministry of Defense Industry, and then director of the Scientific-Research Institute of Photoelectronics. From 1983 to 1997, he served as the president of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences. He was also a deputy of the USSR Supreme Soviet (1984–1992) and a member of the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) of Azerbaijan.
Salayev was a prominent physicist in the fields of solid-state physics, quantum electronics, and photoelectronics. His main focus was the synthesis and fundamental study of new complex semiconductors, the development of novel devices based on them, and their application in the national economy. He obtained significant fundamental results in layered crystals and narrow-bandgap semiconductors, which led to the development of photodetectors and electro-optical converters operating across a wide spectrum—from ultraviolet to 30 µm in the infrared range. Under his leadership, in 1973, the Institute of Photoelectronics was established in Baku—the only institute of its kind in the former USSR—specializing in the design, research, full production, testing, and industrial application of special-purpose photodetectors, electro-optical converters, electronic microcoolers, and metrology devices for these systems. Within a short time, the institute reached global standards, developing new photodetectors, night-vision electro-optical converters, electronic microcoolers capable of cooling down to -120 to -130°C, and various devices for metrology and measurement technology. All materials, devices, and systems were based on in-house designs and fulfilled government orders, often intended for operation under extreme conditions. These devices were successfully used in the Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy for monitoring high-temperature plasma during thermonuclear fusion, laser targeting systems, spacecrafts like Kosmos, Resurs-01, and Resurs-09 for Earth's natural resource studies, the Phobos automatic station for Mars and its moon Phobos, various UAVs, an aerial vehicle that created the first thermal map of Moscow and its region in 1984, different models of missiles, aircraft, and ground combat vehicles. With the institute’s technologies, for the first time, semiconductor crystals were grown in microgravity aboard space equipment.
Eldar Salayev authored 420 scientific works, 88 inventions and patents, and 4 monographs. He was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour and the "Shohrat" (Glory) Order of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
He was a Laureate of the State Prize of Azerbaijan and recipient of awards named after Academician Vavilov, H.Z. Taghiyev, and Nariman Narimanov.

Faramaz Magsudov

Faramaz Gazanfar oglu Magsudov (March 20, 1930, Nakhchivan – July 30, 2000, Baku) was a prominent mathematician, science administrator, and public figure. He held the degree of Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (1974), was a professor (1976), a full member of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (1980; corresponding member since 1976), and was awarded the title "Honored Scientist of the Republic of Azerbaijan" (2000). He graduated from the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of Azerbaijan State University (now Baku State University) in 1954 and completed his postgraduate studies at the Institute of Mathematics of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences. He served as Deputy Director (1964–1974) and then Director (from 1974) of the Institute of Mathematics and Mechanics of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. From 1981 to 1997, he also held the position of Academic Secretary of the Department of Physical-Mechanical and Mathematical Sciences of the Academy. Between 1997 and 2000, he served as President of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. Faramaz Magsudov's scientific interests encompassed a wide range of fields, including functional analysis, differential equations, applied mathematics and mechanics, as well as the history of mathematics. He developed the theory of spectral discreteness for one-dimensional Schrödinger operators with complex-valued potentials, and constructed the spectral theory for arbitrary two-component non-self-adjoint singular differential operators. His research on initial-boundary value problems for second and higher-order nonlinear hyperbolic equations laid the foundation for further studies in this area. Among these contributions, his work on the smoothness problem for the dissipative nonlinear wave equation holds particular significance. Under his active involvement, significant research was conducted in the mechanics of deformable solids, as well as in the mechanics of gases and fluids. He was the author of more than 200 scientific publications, including 11 monographs and several textbooks. In recognition of his contributions to the development of computational methods for assessing the stability of large-scale energy equipment, he was awarded the USSR Council of Ministers Prize in 1983, as well as the bronze (1975) and silver (1978) medals of the former USSR Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy. Faramaz Magsudov represented Azerbaijani science with distinction at numerous international conferences and symposia held in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, Japan, Poland, Hungary, Türkiye, and other countries. He was elected Vice Chairman of the Board of the American Biographical Institute, Deputy Director General of the International Biographical Centre (UK), a member of the American Mathematical Society, Co-Chair of the Azerbaijan-American Center for Education, Economics and Culture, a member of the NATO Science Committee, an honorary member of the Atatürk Cultural Center (Türkiye), and a member of the Islamic Academy of Sciences.
In addition to his scientific accomplishments, he possessed deep knowledge in the fields of literature and art. He played a pivotal role in the training of scientific personnel. Faramaz Magsudov was also a prominent public figure — a deputy of the first convocation of the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, one of the founding members and a board member of the New Azerbaijan Party (YAP). He was awarded the "Istiqlal" (Independence) Order of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
He was laid to rest in the Alley of Honor in Baku.

Fazlullah Naimi

Naimi, Shahabaddin Fazlullah Tabrizi Astarabadi (c. 1339/40–1394), was a prominent thinker and poet. He was the founder of the Hurufi movement, a mystical and philosophical movement that gained widespread influence across the Middle East and Central Asia during the medieval period. Naimi laid the philosophical foundations of Hurufism, which was based on a consistent form of pantheism. He elaborated its principal doctrines in several treatises, including Javidan-i Saghir (The Lesser Eternal Book), Mahabbatnama (The Book of Love), and Arshnama (The Book of the Throne), as well as in Novmnama (On Dreams) and his Divan (poetry collection). His most significant work is considered to be Javidan-i Kabir (The Greater Eternal Book), also known as Javidannama. Hurufis believed that divine essence was manifested in Fazlullah himself, and that as a divine embodiment, he would eliminate injustice on Earth. According to historical sources, Fazlullah Naimi was pursued by the Timuris for his propagation of Hurufi ideas and for engaging in sharp political opposition to the ruling elite. He was eventually captured by Miran Shah, son of Timur, and executed in the fortress of Alinja by order of Timur.

Hasan Abdullayev

Hasan Mammadbaghir oglu Abdullayev (b. 1918, Yayji village, Julfa district – d. 1993, Baku) was a prominent Azerbaijani physicist, Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences, and Full Member of the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, who served as President of the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan from 1970 to 1983. He was a laureate of the State Prize of the Azerbaijan SSR and an Honored Scientist. In 1941, he graduated from the Department of Physics of the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical Institute.
Academician H. Abdullayev devoted more than fifty years of his life to the study of semiconductor physics and biophysics. He was the first to reveal the anomalous behaviors of selenium in selenium-based devices and proposed methods for controlling these phenomena. He conducted a series of complex experiments on the development of devices with long-term electrical memory and the synthesis of chemically complex semiconductor monocrystals for laser applications. His experimental work on new complex semiconductors led to the creation of electrically controlled memory diodes. He also developed new semiconductors for thermoelectric converters. Abdullayev authored over 150 scientific works, 50 of which were published internationally. He held more than 30 patents, some of which were registered in the United States, France, and Russia. He delivered lectures on semiconductor physics and selenium-based semiconductors in Türkiye, Russia, and the United States. For many years, he directed the Institute of Physics of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences. In 1956, he founded the Department of Semiconductor Physics at Baku State University (formerly ADU) and played a key role in training a new generation of specialists in the field.
Hasan Mammadbaghir oglu Abdullayev was repeatedly elected as a deputy to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and was awarded numerous orders and medals for his contributions. He passed away in Baku in 1993 and was laid to rest in the Alley of Honor.

Hatembey Ordubadi

Hatambey Malik Bahrambey oglu Ordubadi (date of birth unknown, born in the city of Ordubad – d. May 25, 1610, Mashhad) was a prominent statesman and patron of culture. He was a descendant of the renowned scientist Nasiraddin al-Tusi. Following the death of his father, Hatambey was appointed as kalantar (mayor) of Ordubad. He later served under the governors of Khoy, Yazd, and Shiraz. During the early years of the reign of Shah Abbas I (1587–1629), he held responsibility for financial affairs at the Safavis court. In 1592, he was appointed as vizier (Etimad al-Dawla), becoming a key figure in the political and economic administration of the Safavis state. Following Shah Abbas’s visit to Ordubad in 1606, the city was granted to Hatambey Ordubadi as a soyurghal (tax-free hereditary estate). He undertook extensive public works there, including the construction of civic buildings and urban development projects.
Hatambey was also known as a patron of scholars and cultural figures. In addition to his administrative and philanthropic activities, he engaged in literary pursuits, writing poetry in both Turkish (Azerbaijani) and Persian under the pen name “Safi.” He died suddenly, and his body was transported first to Tabriz and then to Mashhad, where he was buried in the lower section of the Imam Reza Shrine.

Heydargulu khan Kangarli

Heydargulu khan Kangarli (? - d. 1763/64) was the Khan of Nakhchivan. Following the assassination of Nadir Shah Afshar in 1747 by a group of nobles, the head of the Kangarli tribe, Heydargulu Khan, deposed the Shah's deputy in Nakhchivan, Aghahasan, and declared himself the independent khan of the region. To consolidate his rule and strengthen the khanate, Heydargulu Khan implemented a number of reforms aimed at enhancing commerce—particularly trade, which increased state revenues—and advancing handicrafts. He improved communication infrastructure within the khanate and ordered the repair of old bridges and the construction of new ones. Given the limited military capacity of the Nakhchivan Khanate, Heydargulu Khan sought alliances with more powerful neighboring khanates. To this end, he formed a coalition with Panahali Khan of Karabakh and joined forces with him and the Georgian kings in a campaign against Haji Chalabi, the Khan of Shaki, in 1752. The campaign ended in failure, after which Heydargulu Khan redirected his efforts toward regulating the economic affairs of the khanate. Following his death, he was succeeded by Haji Khan Kangarli.

Hindushah ibn Sanjar Nakhchivani

Hindushah ibn Sanjar ibn Abdullah al-Sahibi al-Girani al-Nakhchivani (b. 1245, Giran – d. 1328) was a historian, linguist, philosopher, writer, translator, poet, scribe, and statesman. He studied at the Mustansariyya Madrasah in Baghdad. In 1275, he served as deputy to his brother, Sayf al-Dawla Amir Mahmud, the governor of Kashan, and later taught at the same madrasah. In 1289, he transcribed Najm al-Din Katibi’s treatise on logic, "Jami al-Daqāʾiq fī Kashf al-Ḥaqāʾiq", for the library of that institution. In the final years of the 13th century, he worked in the financial administration and governed several provinces, gaining recognition as a prominent statesman. He was awarded the honorific title Fakhr al-Dovla. Out of respect for his close friend, the son of the famous historian and vizier ʿAlaʾ al-Din Ata-Malik Juvayni, Nakhchivani adopted the pseudonym Sahibi. He mastered Turkish, Arabic, Persian, and Pahlavi (Middle Persian), and was known for his erudition, foresight, and literary taste. He also studied philosophy, astronomy, mathematics, and engaged in translation work. Like his contemporary Saadi Shirazi, Nakhchivani composed refined prose in Persian. Several of his works have survived to this day. His Arabic anthology Mawārid al-ʿArab, completed in Tabriz in 1307, is one such example. His most renowned work, Tajārub al-Salaf ("Experiences of the Ancestors"), completed in 1324, details the lives and reigns of Arab caliphs, their viziers, and the history of the Umayyads, Abbasids, and Seljuks. It was dedicated to Nusrat al-Din Ahmad ibn Yusuf Shah, the Atabeg of Greater Lur (1295–1330).
Although Tajārub al-Salaf is often described as a Persian translation of the Arab historian Ibn Taqtaqi’s al-Fakhri, Nakhchivani not only translated it with literary finesse but also omitted sections, added extensive commentary, and expanded it to three times the length of the original. This work is considered the most complete treatment of its kind written in Persian and contains valuable information about the author himself, his lineage, prominent figures such as Shams al-Din Juvayni, and the city of Nakhchivan. The author identifies Giran as part of the Nakhchivan district and Vanand village as a dependency of Giran. He notes that a khanqah was built in Vanand by Shams al-Din Muhammad Juvayni (1225–83) and endowed with waqf property. Nakhchivani’s longing for Nakhchivan confirms his origins in the region. He prayed for divine strength and healing and yearned to return to his homeland, which he referred to with the poetic name Nashawa. His Persian-Azerbaijani dictionary Sihah al-ʿAjam is a lexicographical masterpiece. Consisting of 21 chapters and 393 sections, the work is divided into three parts: an introduction (in Arabic), the dictionary section, and a grammar of the Persian language (also in Arabic). It includes 5,117 Persian words with approximately 10,000 Azerbaijani equivalents, making it a crucial source for understanding the vocabulary and grammar of both Persian and Azerbaijani languages in the 12th–14th centuries.

Huseyn Ibrahimov

Huseyn Mammadali oghlu Ibrahimov (born May 23, 1919, in Shahtakhti village, Kangarli District – died April 10, 2008, in Baku) was a writer and public figure, recognized as a People’s Writer of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 1998. He graduated from the Faculty of Journalism of Azerbaijan State University (now Baku State University) in 1958. He began his professional career in 1940 as a teacher at the Sadarak village secondary school. He subsequently held various administrative and editorial positions, including: First Secretary of the Sharur District Committee of the Leninist Communist Youth Union of Azerbaijan (1941–1943); Secretary of the Nakhchivan Regional Committee (1943–1947); Deputy Editor of the newspaper Sharg Gapisi (1947–1949); Chairman of the Radio Broadcasting Committee under the Council of Ministers of the Nakhchivan ASSR (1954–1960); Editor-in-Chief of “Sharg Gapisi” newspaper (1961–1965); Head of the Propaganda and Agitation Department of the Communist Party’s Nakhchivan Regional Committee (1965–1970); and Minister of Culture of the Nakhchivan ASSR (1970–1975). From 1980 onwards, he served as the Executive Secretary of the Nakhchivan branch of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union, and later became the Chair of the branch. Ibrahimov is the author of novels dealing with both historical and contemporary themes. His first major work, the novel “In Search of Tomorrow” (1966), centers on the lives of teachers and celebrates the triumph of moral integrity. His novel “Where the Sun Rises” (1976) depicts the historical events that took place in Nakhchivan during 1918–1919. The novel “Spring Rain” (1983) explores the lives of his contemporaries. “In One Tenth of a Century” (1987), Ibrahimov focuses on the life and work of the architect Ajami Nakhchivani, while in “Slander” (1998), he portrays the fate of the poet and playwright Huseyn Javid. His screenplay novella “Immortal Songs” (1963) recounts the artistic journey of the great composer Uzeyir Hajibeyov. Ibrahimov also published collections of short stories—such as “Gulzar” (1958), “Zarifa’s Flowers” (1960), “Sweet Memory” (1963), and “Nobility” (1979) also novellas including “A Story of Spring” (1958), “The Love of a Dove” (1964), “When One Is Mistaken” (1985), and “Swans Sing Before They Die” (1998). His plays “Children of the Land” (1953) and “Lost Health” (1968) were staged in theaters.
He was elected deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the Nakhchivan ASSR in its 4th, 7th, and 8th convocations, and also served as the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Nakhchivan ASSR (1963, 1967). Additionally, he was elected deputy to the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic in its 2nd convocation
In recognition of his contributions to Azerbaijani literature and public life, Huseyn Ibrahimov was awarded the Order of Glory (Shohrat Order) by the Republic of Azerbaijan in 1999.

Huseyn Javid

Huseyn Javid was born in 1882 in Nakhchivan. He was a poet and playwright. He received his initial education in a traditional religious school (mollakhana), and later continued his studies in Nakhchivan and Tabriz. In 1909, he graduated from the Faculty of Literature at Istanbul University.
Between 1909 and 1915, Huseyn Javid served as a teacher in Nakhchivan, Ganja, Tbilisi, and Baku. His works began to be published in 1913. As a prominent representative of Azerbaijani romanticism, Javid expressed his protest against injustice and advocated for humanism. Notable works in his literary oeuvre include the poetry collection Past Days, the poem Spring Dew, and the plays Mother, Maral, Sheyda, Sheikh Sanan, and Iblis. Initially, the establishment of the communist regime in Azerbaijan instilled a sense of hope in him, which was reflected in his epic Azer and later in the play Masud and Shafiqa. However, he soon became disillusioned with communism, viewing its ideals as mere illusion. His later works, such as The Prophet, Topal Teymur (Timur the Lame), Siyavush, and Khayyam, are historical dramas that further enriched Azerbaijani literature. Javid faced harsh criticism for The Prophet and Topal Teymur, accused of idealizing the Prophet Muhammad and thereby promoting Islamic ideology in the former, and glorifying a feudal conqueror in the latter. In his play Khayyam, the life of the renowned philosopher-poet Omar Khayyam is vividly depicted against the backdrop of medieval Eastern society, with detailed portrayals of intellectuals, courtiers, two-faced religious figures, the general populace, caliphs, and saints. As a romantic poet, Huseyn Javid effectively employed songs, music, and aphorisms to breathe life into his characters, rendering them wise, compassionate, and full of vitality. Although Khayyam’s life in the play is ultimately tragic, his character remains captivating and noble. Javid's narrative poems The Stringed Saz and The Blind Ney Player are devoted to the tragic fate of the people of Southern Azerbaijan.
Huseyn Javid, born Huseyn Abdulla oglu Rasizadeh, fell victim to Stalin’s repressions in 1937 and died on December 5, 1941, in a prison camp in the Irkutsk region. His remains were later repatriated and buried in the yard of his house-museum in Nakhchivan, where a mausoleum was erected over his grave. Numerous schools, libraries, and streets across Baku and other cities in Azerbaijan are named in his honor.
In 1982, the 100th anniversary of Huseyn Javid’s birth was widely celebrated in Azerbaijan. A special theater dedicated to his poetry was opened in Nakhchivan, and many monographs, poems, articles, and scholarly works were written about him.
On October 26, 1982, under the directive of Heydar Aliyev, then First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan, Javid’s grave was brought from Shevchenko village in the Tayshet district of Irkutsk to Baku. Subsequently, the grave was first brought to his father’s house and later, on November 3, was buried in Nakhchivan beside his house museum, beneath the mulberry tree he had loved dearly in his childhood.
In 1996, a magnificent architectural and memorial complex was erected over the grave of the great Azerbaijani poet and playwright, Huseyn Javid, in Nakhchivan. The complex was constructed under the personal initiative and patronage of the President of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev. The mausoleum consists of two parts: the upper section and the crypt. The graves of Huseyn Javid’s wife, Mushkinaz Khanum, his son Ertoghrul (both of whom were reinterred here during the construction of the crypt in 1996), and his daughter Turan Khanum are located in the crypt. A bust of Huseyn Javid is placed within the complex. The monument was designed by Rasim Aliyev, an Honored Architect of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the sculpture was crafted by People’s Artist Omar Eldarov. The mausoleum was built by the Turkish "Star" construction company, and its official opening took place on October 29, 1996.
Many streets, parks, schools, libraries, cinemas, and other cultural and educational institutions in Baku, Nakhchivan, and other cities and districts of the republic are named after Huseyn Javid. A majestic monument dedicated to him has been erected in Baku.

Huseyn khan Nakhchivanski

Lieutenant General Huseyn Khan Nakhchivanski was born on June 28, 1863, in Nakhchivan. He was the son of General-Major Kalbali Khan Nakhchivanski and the grandson of Ehsan Khan Kangarli. Given his father’s high rank in the Russian Imperial Army, Huseyn Khan was sent at the age of fifteen to study at the prestigious Page Corps School in Saint Petersburg, an elite military institution under the personal patronage of the Emperor. He graduated with distinction in 1881 and began his service in the Emperor’s personal cavalry regiment. He served across the Caucasus and various regions of the Russian Empire, earning the rank of colonel in 1903. During the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905), he commanded the 2nd Dagestani Cavalry Regiment, composed of Caucasian troops. Russian journalist A. Kvitka, in his work Diary of a Transbaikal Cossack Officer, makes special mention of the regiment’s valor under Nakhchivanski’s command. In 1906, he was appointed commander of the Leib Guard Regiment, and the following year was promoted to Major General. By 1912, he had assumed command of the 1st Separate Cavalry Brigade. During World War I, Nakhchivanski led both the 1st and 2nd Cavalry Divisions and distinguished himself in offensives against the German front. The Russian writer Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, in his novel August 1914, notes: “The elite cavalry guard unit composed of the cream of Petersburg nobility was commanded by General Huseyn Khan Nakhchivanski.” In recognition of his military successes and strategic brilliance during the war, he was promoted in 1916 to the rank of Full General of Cavalry, the highest cavalry rank in the Russian Imperial Army. Later, he was appointed Commander of the Southern Caucasus Front. Following the February Revolution of 1917, he resigned from military service. Nakhchivanski was decorated with numerous prestigious awards, including all four classes of the Order of Saint George, the Order of Saint Vladimir, the Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky (2nd Class), the Order of Saint Anna, and the “For Bravery” medal. He also received foreign honors, including Iran’s Order of the Lion and Sun (2nd and 4th classes, both embellished with diamonds), Romania’s Order of the Star, Austria’s Iron Cross, and Bulgaria’s Medal for Military Merit. He was also awarded a personalized gold weapon inscribed with his name and decorated with a ribbon. Notably, Huseyn Khan Nakhchivanski was the first and only Muslim in the Russian Empire to be awarded the title of General-Adjutant to the Emperor.
A scion of a noble lineage, Huseyn Khan was not only an exceptional military commander but also a wise and loyal figure, deeply devoted to the Russian people and to Emperor Nicholas II. Even after the collapse of the imperial regime, Nakhchivanski refused to submit to the Provisional Government. Despite Emperor Nicholas II personally advising him to cooperate with the new regime, Nakhchivanski held firm in his monarchist convictions, declaring his willingness to die for the monarchy and his sovereign. This unwavering loyalty ultimately led to his arrest by Bolsheviks in January 1919, where he was subjected to harsh torture before being executed by firing squad. A comprehensive biography titled “His Majesty’s General-Adjutant” authored by Professor Rudolf Ivanov, was published in Moscow in 2006.

Huseyngulu Aliyev

Huseyngulu Ali oghlu Aliyev was born on February 3, 1949, in the village of Bist, the Ordubad District of Azerbaijan. From 1971 to 1975, he studied at the Baku Art School named after Azim Azimzade. He continued his education from 1977 to 1982 at the Faculty of Decorative and Applied Arts of the Azerbaijan State Institute of Arts named after M.A. Aliyev.
Between 1982 and 1988, he worked at the Nakhchivan State Art Gallery. Since 1988, he has served as the chief stage designer at the Nakhchivan State Musical Drama Theatre named after Jalil Mammadguluzadeh . During his tenure at the theatre, he designed sets for numerous productions, including Uzeyir Hajibeyov’s “If Not That One, Then This One” and “Arshin Mal Alan”, “We’ll Decide Ourselves” by S. Alasgarov and Sh. Gurbanov; “Good and Evil” by I. Safarli; “My Wife’s Husband” by G. Khuqayev; “Youth at Fifty” by Z. Hajibeyov; “The Five-Manat Bride” by S. Rustamov; and “Compassion Is Not Love” by H. Arzulu, among others.
Beyond his contributions to theatre, Aliyev has also created notable public monuments and sculptures. Among these are the statues of “Koroghlu” and “Bahruz Kangarli” in the city of Nakhchivan; the “Statue of Mother” located at the Alley of Martyrs; as well as Martyrs' Memorials in the villages of Vanand and Nehram, alongside commemorative busts of fallen soldiers. His artistic oeuvre includes works in the genres of painting, graphic art, and caricature. Aliyev became a member of the Union of Artists of Azerbaijan in 1986. In 1988, he was awarded the title of Honored Art Worker of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. In 1999, he was designated an Honored Artist of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and in 2002, he was bestowed the title of People’s Artist of the Republic of Azerbaijan. He was conferred the academic title of Associate Professor in 2008 and promoted to Professor in 2017.

Isa Habibbayli

Isa Habibbayli was born on October 16, 1949, in the village of Danzik in the Sharur District of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, into a family of teachers. He graduated with honors from the Faculty of Language and Literature at the Nakhchivan branch of the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical Institute, specializing in Azerbaijani language and literature (1971).
He holds a Doctor of Philology and is a professor. He is a corresponding member of the Atatürk Supreme Council for Culture, Language, and History. Habibbayli is a member of both the Union of Writers of Azerbaijan and the Union of Journalists of Azerbaijan, and has been awarded the honorary title of Honored Scientist.
He began his career in 1971 as a teacher at the Danzik village secondary school in Sharur. From 1975, he served in various academic positions at Nakhchivan State University, including lecturer, associate professor, vice-rector for scientific affairs (1991–1996), and chairman of the Student Scientific Society (1968–1971, 1975–1990). From 1996 to 2013, he was Rector of Nakhchivan State University.
Between April 2013 and October 2019, he served as Vice-President of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS). He was First Vice-President in 2019–2020, and once again Vice-President from 2020 to 2022. Since October 2022, he has been serving as President of ANAS.
A member of the New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) since 1996, Habibbayli was elected as a deputy to the I and II convocations of the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and chaired the Commission on International Relations and Human Rights (1998–2005). He also served as Chairman of the Science and Education Committee of the III, IV, and V convocations of the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) of Azerbaijan, and currently represents the VI convocation.
As a legislator, he authored several important draft laws, including On Science (2016), On Preschool Education (2017), On Vocational Education (2018), and On General Education (2019). Since 2015, he has chaired the Toponymy Commission of the Milli Majlis. He also contributed to the drafting of the new ANAS Charter (2014, 2023), the ANAS Development Concept and Roadmap (2025), and is the author of the "Temple of Science" documentary, the "Academy March", and initiator of the “Physics and Lyrics” project and exhibitions of Visual and Applied Arts at ANAS. He served on the Political Council of the New Azerbaijan Party from 2013 to 2021. Since 2024, he has been the Editor-in-Chief of the Azerbaijan National Encyclopedia, after previously serving as Deputy Editor-in-Chief. He also heads editorial boards of academic journals such as Terminology, Reports of ANAS, Science and Life, Philology and Art Studies, Poeetika.izm, and Comparative Literature Studies.
Habibbayli has conducted extensive research on literary movements, genres, and styles, being the first to classify satire as a literary type and to identify early realism, postmodernism, magical realism, and academicism as literary movements. He proposed the concept of transition in post-independence Azerbaijani literature from mono-methodological writing to multi-method artistic approaches. He developed major scholarly concepts such as Azerbaijanism, periodization of Azerbaijani literature, and the "Molla Nasraddinism" ideology. His studies encompass 19th to 21st-century Azerbaijani literary history. He has deeply researched the legacy of Jalil Mammadguluzadeh, compiled his family genealogy, and prepared multi-volume editions of his works, including a 4-volume collection published in Baku (2004), a 2-volume selection published in Nakhchivan (2009), and selected works issued in Russia (1999), Pakistan (2004), Egypt (2008), Hungary (2011), Lithuania (2017), and in Bulgaria, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan (2019). He identified descendants of Mammadguluzadeh in France and Iran (1992–1998) and organized a visit by his Polish descendants to Baku (November 16–21, 2019).
Habibbayli has also published unknown works by literary figures such as Jalil Mammadguluzadeh, Mahammad Taghi Sidgi, Mahammad agha Shahtakhtli, Mammad Said Ordubadi, Eynali bey Sultanov, Mammad Jafar Jafarov, and Alekber Garib.
He is the author of 89 books, over 1,500 articles, including 212 scholarly articles published internationally. He has supervised 39 PhD dissertations and 16 doctoral theses. For his academic contributions, he has been awarded the honorary title of Honored Scientist of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as the Order of Glory (Shohrat) in 2007 and the Order of Honor (Sharaf) in 2009.

Ismayil Hajiyev

Ismayil Muxtar oglu Hajiyev was born on January 21, 1951, in the village of Khanagah, Julfa District of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. He graduated from the Faculty of History at the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical Institute. He holds a Doctorate in History and the academic title of Professor. He is a full member of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) since 2003 and a full member of the New York Academy of Sciences since 2002. He also serves on the Presidium of ANAS.
Hajiyev began his professional career in 1974 as a teacher in a rural school in Julfa. From 1978 to 2002, he held various academic and administrative positions at Nakhchivan State University, including lecturer, senior lecturer, associate professor, professor, deputy dean, dean, and vice-rector. Since 2003, he has been serving as the Chairman of the Nakhchivan Department of ANAS and continues as a professor at Nakhchivan State University.
He is the author of 15 monographs, 44 books, 451 scholarly articles, and 280 popular-scientific articles. Under his authorship and editorial leadership, significant academic reference works have been compiled and published, including: the Encyclopedia of Nakhchivan (in two volumes), Encyclopedia of Nakhchivan Monuments, Historical Atlas of Nakhchivan, History of Nakhchivan (in three volumes), Geography of Nakhchivan (in two volumes), Ethnography of Nakhchivan (in two volumes).
Under his academic supervision, 20 PhD dissertations and 9 doctoral dissertations have been successfully defended. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Proceedings of the Nakhchivan Department of ANAS, a member of the Republican Council for Coordination of Scientific Research, and sits on the editorial board of the ANAS journal Proceedings (series: history, philosophy, law).
On February 12, 2020, he was appointed a member of the Republican Council for the Coordination of Scientific Research by the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan. On February 14, 2020, he was confirmed as a member of the editorial board of the journal Science and Life by a resolution of the ANAS Presidium. On February 24, 2020, he was appointed by Presidential decree as a member of the State Commission on State Prizes in the fields of science, technology, architecture, culture, and literature.
He served as a deputy of the 2nd convocation of the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, and was elected as a deputy of the 3rd and 4th convocations of the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) of Azerbaijan.
He is a member of the Human Rights Committee of the Milli Majlis and participates in several inter-parliamentary working groups, including Azerbaijan–Australia, Azerbaijan–China, Azerbaijan–Romania, and Azerbaijan–Türkiye relations.
Hajiyev is also a member of the Dialogue Eurasia Platform. In 2024, he was awarded the “100th Anniversary of Heydar Aliyev (1923–2023)” Jubilee Medal.

Ismayil Ibrahimov

Ismayil Ali oghlu Ibrahimov (Born: December 31, 1915, Ordubad – Died: July 16, 2016) was a scientist in the field of automation, Doctor of Technical Sciences (1968), Professor (1964), Full Member (Academician) of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (1980; Corresponding Member since 1968). He was honored as a Hero of Socialist Labor (1986), Honored Scientist of the Azerbaijan SSR (1981), and Distinguished Oil Industry Worker of the USSR (1985). He received the USSR State Prize in 1983. Ismayil Ibrahimov graduated from the Faculty of Power Engineering at the Azerbaijan Industrial Institute in 1941. A veteran of the Great Patriotic War (1941–1945), he served as a platoon and battalion commander in the communications unit. Notably, he is one of only three Azerbaijanis profiled in the "200 Prominent Figures of the Modern Era" section of the Moscow-published multi-volume work "Soldiers of the 20th Century". From 1946 to 1988, he worked at the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy (now Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University), where he served as a lecturer, associate professor, professor, and head of the Department of Control and Measuring Devices. He also served as the rector of the institution during two terms: 1960–1970 and 1978–1988. Between 1970 and 1978, he held a key political role as First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Azerbaijan SSR.
He was a deputy of both the Azerbaijan SSR and USSR Supreme Soviets (1963, 1967, 1980, 1985), and served as a member of the Central Committee (1971–1991) and its Bureau (1971–1978) of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan. His main scientific contributions lie in the theoretical development and industrial application of automation systems for oil refining and petrochemical processes. He authored more than 140 scientific papers, including 17 monographs and textbooks, and played a key role in training highly qualified scientific and engineering personnel. He was also Chairman of the Scientific Council on Informatics, Computing Technology, Automation, and Control Problems under the Presidium of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. Ibrahimov was a member of the Republican Council of War and Labor Veterans and the Veterans Council of CIS countries. Throughout his career, he was awarded numerous orders and medals in recognition of his service.
Ismayil Ibrahimov passed away on July 16, 2016.

Ismayil khan Nakhchivanski

Nakhchivanski Ismayil Khan Ehsan Khan oglu (5 January 1819, Nakhchivan – 1918, Nakhchivan) - military figure, lieutenant general. Ismayil Khan was the son of the last Khan of Nakhchivan, Ehsan Khan Kangarli, and the brother of Kalbali Khan Nakhchivanski. He graduated from the Tiflis Military Gymnasium in 1839 and received the rank of poruchik (lieutenant) a year later. He served for many years in the Caucasian Separate Corps, where he steadily rose through the ranks: promoted to staff captain in 1844, and later received the rank of colonel in 1860, serving as a regimental commander. For his exemplary leadership during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, he was awarded the rank of major cavalry general. Eventually, he retired from military service with the rank of lieutenant general. After his military career, Ismayil Khan returned to his homeland and devoted himself to public works and infrastructure development. He initiated water supply projects in Nakhchivan, had underground canals (kahrizes) dug, and commissioned the construction of a domed bathhouse, which is preserved today as a historical monument.
Through the marriage of his son Aman Khan to Khanbikeh Khanum, the daughter of the renowned poetess Khurshidbanu Natavan, Ismayil Khan established familial ties with the Karabakh Khanate. For his military service, he was awarded several imperial honors: Order of St. Stanislaus, 1st and 3rd classes, Order of St. Vladimir, 3rd and 4th classes, Order of St. George, 4th class, The Russian writer Valentin Pikul included a depiction of Nakhchivanski in his historical novel "Bayazid", highlighting his bravery and exceptional command skills. Ismayil Khan is also mentioned in the first volume of the Soviet Military Encyclopedia, which credits him for commanding Russian forces during the siege of Bayazid, one of the pivotal battles of the Russo-Turkish War. It is worth noting that in some historical sources, Ismayil Khan Nakhchivanski has been mistakenly confused with his nephew, Huseyn Khan Nakhchivanski.

Jafargulu khan Nakhchivanski

Nakhchivanski Jafargulu khan (?-?) was a prominent public and political figure. He played a significant role in the region's public-political life and in addressing the challenges it faced. He actively participated in defending the region as the chairman of the Nakhchivan National Committee, helping to protect the people from bloodshed caused by the dashnaks during the establishment of the Republic and in its early days. After the failure of the Araz-Turk Republic, Kalbali khan and Karim khan Iravanski established a new system- the Temporary Government and he served as its chairman.
In a letter addressed to the English general-governor in Nakhchivan, written on February 26, 1919, he expressed his concern that, with the Ottoman troops leaving the region and its separation from the Azerbaijan People' s Republic, the Armenians would pose a threat. Considering all this, he wished to take advantage of the opportunity to ensure the region' s integration with mainland Azerbaijan. With the consent of the officials of the Azerbaijan People' s Republic and at the request of the Muslim co- villagers of Iravan province, he discussed matters concerning the province' s defense against the Armenian-dashnak armed forces and the urgent incorporation of the region into the Azerbaijan People' s Republic with Mirabbas Mirgasimov, who arrived in Nakhchivan from Baku in February 1919, and with Kalbali khan, the commander of the local government's armed troops. He sought to dismantle the Armenian administration established in Nakhchivan province during May and June of 1919, making significant efforts to protect the region from dashnak occupation. In the early days of Soviet control in the region, he actively defended the position of chairman of the Nakhchivan National Council. However, he soon faced persecution from the Soviet government, which branded him for two offenses: a) “the organizer of the brotherly bloodshed, " and b) “the anti- Soviet propagandist. " At the end of August 1920, he was arrested by the Nakhchivan Revolutionary Committee and sent to Baku. On October 5, 1920, he and his brother Rahim khan Nakhchivanski appealed to the leadership of the Azerbaijan Provisional Revolutionary Committee, claiming they were victims of unjust repression, but they were not released and were sent to Shusha prison, where he died there.

Jalal Aliyev

Jalal Alirza oghlu Aliyev was born on June 30, 1928, in the city of Nakhchivan. In 1944, he graduated from the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Geography at the Nakhchivan Teachers’ Institute, and in 1951, he graduated with honors from the Faculty of Biology at Azerbaijan State University. In 1955, Jalal Aliyev defended his Candidate of Sciences (PhD) dissertation and in 1971, his Doctor of Sciences dissertation. He was elected a corresponding member of the Azerbaijan SSR Academy of Sciences in 1976 and a full member (academician) in 1980. He was also a foreign member of the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences (1995) and of the Agrarian Sciences Academies of Ukraine and Belarus (1996). From 1981 to 1990, he served as the academic secretary of the Division of Biological Sciences at the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan. He led the Department of Plant Physiology and Biotechnology at the Research Institute of Crop Husbandry of the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as the Department of Fundamental Problems of Biological Productivity at the Institute of Botany of ANAS. Academician Jalal Aliyev's scientific work focused on the theoretical foundations of photosynthetic productivity in agricultural plants, particularly wheat. He conducted comprehensive research on the processes of photosynthesis and photorespiration. His studies examined the physiological, biophysical, biochemical, and molecular-genetic bases of plant productivity, analyzing these processes from the molecular level to whole plant and crop systems. He expanded research in physicochemical biology in Azerbaijan and pioneered new directions in biology during the 1970s, including molecular biology, molecular genetics, gene and cell biotechnology, mathematical biology, computer biology, and bioinformatics. Jalal Aliyev developed high-yielding wheat varieties with excellent grain quality, which now constitute a large portion of Azerbaijan's wheat cultivation and have shown successful results in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Georgia. He also created a national program for plant genetic resources and a strategy for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. He established the Plant Gene Bank and served as the chief editor of the publication Red Book of Azerbaijan (2013). The students of the scientific school established by Jalal Aliyev now work successfully in leading scientific centers and universities across Azerbaijan, the CIS, the USA, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Israel, and Europe. He was the author and co-author of over 600 scientific works published nationally and internationally, including 25 monographs and books, and held 25 patents. Under his supervision, 85 candidates of sciences (PhDs) and 11 doctors of sciences were trained. Academician Jalal Aliyev was Chairman of the Problem Council on Biological Sciences of the Republican Council for Organization and Coordination of Scientific Research, a member of several scientific and dissertation councils, editor-in-chief of Proceedings of ANAS (series on biology and medical sciences), a member of the editorial board of Transactions of ANAS, an honorary member of the editorial board of the US-based journal Bioinformatics and Comparative Genomics, and a member of the editorial board of the Australian journal Computer Biology and Bioinformatics. He was also a member of four convocations (1995, 2000, 2005, and 2010) of the National Assembly of the Republic of Azerbaijan. He was recognized as an Honored Scientist. Jalal Aliyev received the Order of the Red Banner of Labour (1972, 1986), the Order of Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2003), the Order of Honor of the Republic of Georgia (2003), the Honorary Diploma of the President of Azerbaijan (2008), and the Order of Honor of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2013).
Jalal Aliyev passed away on January 31, 2016, and was buried in the First Alley of Honor.

Jalil Mammadguluzadeh

Jalil Mammadgulu oghlu Mammadguluzadeh was born on 22 February 1869 in Nakhchivan. He received his first education in a Mollakhana (ecclesiastical school) and then in a three-year Nakhchivan city school. In 1887 he graduated from the Transcaucasian Teachers Seminary (Gori Pedagogical Seminary), and in 1887-1897 he worked as a teacher in the villages of Ulukhanli in Iravan province, Bash-Norashen (now Jalilkend in Sharur district) and Nehram in Nakhchivan district. In 1889, he wrote his first work allegorical play “Tea Party”. During this period, he also wrote many short stories, the play “Raisins game” and the story “Stories of Danabash village”.
Since 1902 he began his journalistic activities in Iravan where he published his first articles in the newspaper “Caspian” under the headings “Iravan” and “From Iravan: from our correspondent”. From 1903 he worked in the editorial office of “Shargi-Rus” newspaper in Tiflis. This newspaper and its editor Mammadagha Shahtakhtli played an important role in his career and affected on his formation as a writer and journalist. At the invitation of M. Shahtakhtli he started to co-operate with “Shargi-Rus” (1903) and for the first time published in this newspaper his works “Mailbox”, “Raisins game”, many articles and translation works. On 26 November 1904, he was appointed temporary editor of “Shargi-Rus” newspaper. After the magazine’s demise, Mirza Jalil bought the printing house of the newspaper “Shargi Rus” together with Omar Faig Nemanzadeh and merchant Mashadi Alasgar Baghirov and formed the editorial-typography “Geyrat” (“Honour”) in 1905. The works he published during this period, devoted to the themes of revolution and freedom, expressed his different views and approaches, his in-depth study of human destinies on the background of socio-political events, and skilfully emphasised his literary skill. Under the influence of the events of 1905, he wrote “Mailbox”, “Master Zeynal”, “Constitution in Iran”, “Russian Girl”, “Consul’s Wife”, “Gurbanali bey” and dozens of other stories, which became a novelty in the literature of the peoples of Azerbaijan and the whole Middle East. Such comedies as “Dead Men”, “My Mother’s Book”, “Gathering of Madmen”, “Kamancha” opened a new page in literature and were performed on the stage of theatres of Azerbaijan for a long time. The play “Dead Men” had success in theatres of Türkiye, Russia and Iran, Central Asia and influenced the development of new literary scholars.
In June 1920 Mirza Jalil moved with his family to Tabriz and in 1921 published 8 issues of “Molla Nasreddin” there. On 24 June 1921, at the invitation of the new government, he met with N. Narimanov, D. Bunyadzadeh and A. Garayev. During the meeting they discussed a number of issues and decided to start republishing “Molla Nasreddin”. Thus, 370 issues of “Molla Nasreddin” were published in Tiflis, 8 issues in Tabriz and 398 issues in Baku. The rich creative heritage of Jalil Mammadguluzadeh and his magazine “Molla Nasreddin” had a strong influence on the development of literary and social thought, revolutionary-democratic movement in the Near and Middle East, especially in Iran and Türkiye.
The years 1921-1923 are a bright period of Jalil Mammadguluzadeh’s public activity. In 1924, Jalil Mammadguluzadeh was elected a member of the committee for the development of the New Alphabet and the Central Commission on Terminology, in 1926 he was elected a member of the organising committee for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Azerbaijani press, as well as the Society for the Survey and Study of Azerbaijan. At the V Congress of Soviets of Azerbaijan at the suggestion of Hamid Sultanov J. Mammadguluzadeh was elected a candidate to the Central Executive Committee of Azerbaijan (26 March 1927). In addition to the CEC meetings in Baku, he also participated in mobile meetings held in Khankendi and Lankaran, participated in the preparation of some resolutions and recommendations.
Prominent writer-dramaturge, publicist, public figure Jalil Mammadguluzadeh died on 4 January 1932 in Baku and was buried in the Alley of Honor.

Jamil Mufidzade

Jamil Mir Yusif oglu Mufidzade was born on February 24, 1934, in the city of Ordubad.
He received his art education first at the renowned Azimzade Art School in Baku and later at the Kharkov Art Institute. Since 1957, he had been a participant in exhibitions of various scales.
For his contributions to the development of national visual art, he was awarded honorary titles such as Honored Artist of the Republic (1982) and People's Artist (2002). He took part in international exhibitions in various countries and held more than 10 solo exhibitions abroad. His works are preserved in museums and private galleries in Russia, Germany, France, Italy, Egypt, Türkiye, Iran, Mongolia, and other countries.
He is especially known for series such as “Icherisheher”, “Absheron Oil”, “Baku – the Oil Capital”, “Buchenwald”, “Khinalig”, “On Mongolian Soil”, “Impressions of Egypt”, and others.
Jamil Mufidzade's art is characterized by uniqueness and a strong expression of national and spiritual values. His approach to national artistic traditions is individual, and his works harmoniously blend with the traditions of miniature art.
Jamil Mufidzade was a professor at the Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts.
He passed away on December 20, 2019, in Baku.

Jamshid Nakhchivanski

Jamshid Jafargulu oglu Nakhchivanski (August 10, 1895, Nakhchivan city – August 26, 1938) was a military figure and brigade commander. He graduated from the Yelizavetgrad Guard School (in Western Ukraine) in 1915. During World War I, he served as the commander of a cavalry squadron composed of Muslims, participated in the breakthrough of the "Brusilov Front," and was awarded the 4th Class Order of Saint George. Wounded three times on the Austria–Romania front, J. Nakhchivanski was rewarded with a silver weapon for his bravery as a cavalry officer and received the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Class Orders of St. Anna and the 2nd and 3rd Class Orders of St. Stanislaus.
After the collapse of the Southwestern Front, staff captain J. Nakhchivanski returned to Azerbaijan with the cavalry regiment he led and took part in liberating Baku from enemy forces on September 15, 1918, together with Turkish troops and the Azerbaijani Detached Corps. He fought fearlessly for the independence of Azerbaijan.
In 1923 and 1928, Nakhchivanski attended short-term courses at the Frunze Higher Military Academy in Moscow. Upon returning to Azerbaijan, he resumed his position as a division commander.
Russian historian and writer Rudolf Ivanov wrote a book titled “On Behalf of the Soviet Union... The Life and Death of Brigade Commander Nakhchivanski”, published in Moscow in 2007. This was the first comprehensive historical monograph on J. Nakhchivanski. The book recounts the tragic fate of the last general from the legendary dynasty of the Khans of Nakhchivan — a hero of the imperial war, a military leader, and a victim of Stalinist repressions. The author vividly depicts episodes from the life of this great son of the Azerbaijani people, who was arrested three times on false charges (in 1920, 1931, and 1938) and sentenced to execution twice.
Based on archival documents, Ivanov reveals that the order for Nakhchivanski's execution was initially canceled by Stalin and replaced with an execution in exile. The historian was able to determine the exact date of his execution — it occurred in May 1938. Nakhchivanski was buried alongside other prominent Soviet political and military figures — Bukharin, Rykov, Karaev, Bunyadzadeh, Verkhovsky, Lewandowski, and others — at the "Kommunarka-Loza" site near Moscow.
The honorable name of this military figure was restored to his people by the late President of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev. Today, a military high school and a street in Baku bear his name, and a memorial museum has been established in his native city of Nakhchivan.

Kalbali khan Nakhchivanski

Nakhchivanski Kalbali Khan Ehsan Khan oghlu (Born: 1824, Nakhchivan – Died: May 1, 1883, Nakhchivan) - military commander, Major General (1874) of the Russian Imperial Army. He was the son of the last khan of Nakhchivan, Ehsan Khan Kangarli, and the younger brother of Ismayil Khan Nakhchivanski. At the age of 14, he was enrolled in the prestigious Page Corps School in St. Petersburg, a military institution for the sons of the nobility. However, due to a sudden illness, he had to return to Nakhchivan. Following his recovery, in 1849, he volunteered for the Dagestan campaign, where he demonstrated bravery in combat and was subsequently promoted to officer rank. Kalbali Khan fought valiantly in the Crimean War (1853–1856) and was appointed commander of the Leib Guard Hussar Regiment in 1855. During the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, he was appointed commander of the Iravan Cavalry Brigade, which was composed mainly of Azerbaijani soldiers. His exceptional leadership and courage in military operations during this period earned him widespread recognition.
Apart from his military accomplishments, Kalbali Khan held a prominent position in the social, political, and cultural life of Nakhchivan. He was highly respected by the public and played an influential role in regional affairs. For his distinguished military service, he was decorated with the Order of St. Stanislaus (3rd Class), two Orders of St. George, and was awarded a jeweled sword—a prestigious symbol of honor in the Russian Empire.

Maharram Mammadyarov

Maharram Ali oghlu Mammadyarov (October 17, 1924, Yayji village, Julfa district – January 2, 2022, Baku) was a distinguished Azerbaijani chemist whose influential research in organic chemistry, petrochemistry, and biotechnology significantly contributed to the scientific and industrial development of Azerbaijan in the 20th century. He was a Doctor of Chemical Sciences (1971), Professor (1972), Corresponding Member (1989) and later Full Member (2001) of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS). A veteran of World War II, Mammadyarov began his academic journey at the Nakhchivan Pedagogical College (1941), followed by Azerbaijan State University (1949), and later completed his postgraduate studies at the Leningrad Institute of Technology (1953). Mammadyarov held various scientific positions throughout his career, including scientific secretary at the Institute of Chemistry of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences (1953–1955), senior researcher at the USSR Academy of Sciences’ N.D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry (1955–1959), and at the Yusif Mammadaliyev Institute of Petrochemical Processes (1959–1969). From 1969, he headed the Laboratory for the Synthesis and Technology of Synthetic Oils at the same institute. Between 1973 and 1979, he directed the Nakhchivan Regional Scientific Center, where he conducted extensive research into the natural resources of the region, including the technological utilization of natural carbon dioxide from Nakhchivan’s thermal sources. For this work, he was awarded the State Prize of the Republic of Azerbaijan (1980). He also taught at the Nakhchivan State Pedagogical Institute (now Nakhchivan State University) from 1975 to 1978. From 1981 to 2002, he served as Director of the Institute of Microbiology of ANAS, where he expanded his work into technical microbiology, including oil microbiology, biosynthesis of surface-active agents, and the bioextraction of rare elements from ore. Under his leadership, groundbreaking studies were conducted on the chlorination of ethylene and propylene at high temperatures in a “fluidized” catalyst bed, leading to the development and pilot implementation of vinyl chloride production technology. He also advanced research in synthesis and conversion of perhaloolfins, oxygen- and silicon-containing compounds, and norbornene derivatives. Mammadyarov was also known for his work in biotechnological methods of enhancing oil recovery, which were successfully applied in the Absheron oil fields. He was the author of over 250 scientific works, including 3 monographs and 40 inventor’s certificates. He served as a member of the USSR Academy of Sciences’ Scientific Council on Fine Organic Synthesis (1974–1979) and delivered lectures at numerous international scientific forums. His contributions were honored with numerous awards, including the Academician Yusif Mammadaliyev Prize (1998) and the Shohrat Order (Order of Glory, 2014). Maharram Mammadyarov passed away on January 2, 2022, at the age of 97 and was buried in the Second Alley of Honor in Baku. His legacy remains foundational to the fields of chemistry and applied biotechnology in Azerbaijan.

Mahammad agha Shahtakhtinski

Mahammad agha Mahammadtaghi Sultan oghlu Shahtakhtinski (also known as Shahtakhtly)(Born: 1846, Shahtakhty village, Nakhchivan – Died: 1931, Baku). Mahammad agha Shahtakhtinski was a distinguished publicist, orientalist, philologist, educator, and public figure. He received his primary education in Nakhchivan and completed his secondary education at the Tiflis Gymnasium. In 1869, he graduated from the University of Leipzig, where he studied philosophy, history, and law. Shahtakhtinski began his academic and journalistic career in Germany in 1870, contributing essays and articles on Eastern literature and history to various newspapers and journals. In 1879, he published his work “Improved Muslim Alphabet” in Tiflis, where he scientifically substantiated the need for a reformed alphabet and proposed its adoption by Turkic peoples. This issue remained central to his scholarly and public activities throughout his life. During the 1880s, he served as a special correspondent for Moskovskiye Vedomosti in Istanbul and later became editor of the Kaspi newspaper (1891–1893). In 1902, he returned to Europe and taught Oriental languages at the Paris Institute of Foreign Languages, earning recognition from the French Ministry of Education in the form of an Honorary Diploma. Upon his return to Tiflis in 1902, he founded the “Geyrat” publishing house, and in 1903 launched the influential newspaper “Sharqi-Rus” (The Eastern Russian). In 1907, he was elected as a Deputy to the Second State Duma of the Russian Empire representing the Erivan province. He also collaborated with the Rossiya newspaper in Saint Petersburg. Between 1908 and 1918, Shahtakhtinski lived in Iran, Iraq, and Türkiye, engaging in both scholarly and political activities. Following the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918), he returned to his homeland and played an active role in the foundation of Baku State University, where he lectured on the history, languages, and literature of Eastern peoples as a professor. Under Soviet rule, he continued his intellectual pursuits, collaborating with Bakinskiy Rabochiy and Moscow’s Krasny Vostok newspapers. He was a member of the All-Union Committee on the Latinization of Turkic and Tajik scripts.
He was affiliated with several prestigious organizations, including: International Phonetic Association (since 1899), International Asian Society (since 1900), Caucasus Division of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society (since 1903). Shahtakhtinski was a visionary thinker who played a critical role in elevating literary studies and public discourse in Azerbaijan. His contributions to alphabet reform, education, and journalism left a lasting legacy. He passed away in 1931 in Baku.

Mahammad ibn Hidushah Nakhchivani

Mahammad ibn Hindushah ibn Sanjar ibn Abdullah al-Girani an-Nakhchivani (c. 1293, Nakhchivan – 1376) Scholar, Lexicographer, Jurist, and High-ranking State Official (Chief Qadi). Mahammad Nakhchivani was a prominent 14th-century intellectual and statesman, descending from a renowned scholarly family. He continued the intellectual legacy of his father, Hindushah Nakhchivani, and received a comprehensive education, mastering Arabic, Persian, and Turkic languages, as well as several disciplines of the time. In the 1320s, Nakhchivani moved to Tabriz, the capital of the Ilkhanate, where he served in various fiscal and administrative positions at the court. He became the munshi (scribe) and confidant to Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad Rashidi, son of the famed historian Fazlullah Rashid al-Din and later vizier of the state. Due to his intellectual prowess, he earned the title “Shams al-Munshi an-Nakhchivani.” Under the directive of Ilkhani ruler Abu Sa'id Bahadur Khan (r. 1316–1335), he began writing a major work on state organization and administration, a task he completed in 1366, long after the Ilkhanis dynasty had declined. During his later years, he served under the Chobanis and Jalairis dynasties. Under the Jalairis, he held the position of Chief Qadi (Qadi al-Qudat), gaining repute in both legal and religious spheres. Nakhchivani’s political philosophy mirrored those of earlier thinkers such as Nizam al-Mulk, Rashidaddin and his son Giyasaddin, also Vassaf, Hamdullah Qazvini—advocating for a centralized monarchy and strong governance as the foundation of a stable state. Two works from his scientific legacy have survived to the present day: “Sihah al-Furs” (1328) - this Persian-language lexicon explains over 2,300 Persian words and phrases, arranged into 25 chapters and 431 sections. Drawing upon earlier lexicographical traditions, Nakhchivani incorporates multilingual examples, including Azerbaijani and Turkic, and provides rich ethnographic information about local customs and lifestyles. The lexicon contains excerpts from poets, including his father, and serves as a critical resource for historical linguistics. Four manuscript copies are known; it was published in Tehran by A. Taati in 1962.
His second work, dedicated to the Jalairi ruler Sheikh Uveys (1356–1374) and completed in 1366, is “Dastur al-Katib fi Ta'yin al-Marateb” (A Guide for Scribes in the Designation of Ranks), which consists of two parts. This treatise serves both as a manual for scribes and a detailed account of the administrative, legal, economic, and cultural structures of the period. The work includes authentic examples of state documents, explaining titles and responsibilities within the feudal hierarchy, property rights, tax systems, military structure, urban and rural life, and more. It contains over 100 historical terms, many of which are carefully defined by the author. This work is often compared to Nizam al-Mulk’s “Siyasatnama” and Rashid al-Din’s “Jami al-Tawarikh” for its scope and historical value. Six manuscripts are known, and a critical edition, based on all extant versions, was prepared by Academician A. A. Alizadeh and published in Moscow between 1964–1976 in two volumes (three books).

Mahammad Taghi Sidgi

Sidgi - Pseudonym of Mahammad Taghi Karbalayi Safar oghlu Safarov (March 22, 1854, Ordubad – December 9, 1903, Garabaghlar, Sharur District)Educator, Enlightener, Poet, Playwright, Publicist. Mahammad Taghi Sidgi was a distinguished educator and intellectual of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modern education and children’s literature in Azerbaijan. Having received a traditional madrasa education, he developed a deep knowledge of classical Eastern philosophy and poetry, which later influenced both his literary and pedagogical outlook. In his early adulthood, Sidgi engaged in commerce to support his family and opened a teahouse in Ordubad, which became a cultural hub where local intellectuals and literature enthusiasts would gather. His passion for education soon led him to co-found several schools, including the "Akhtar" school in Ordubad (1892) with fellow reformer Huseyn Sultan Kangarli, and later the "Tarbiyya" ("School of Nurture") in Nakhchivan (1894). These institutions introduced progressive pedagogical methods, earning Sidgi a reputation as a people’s teacher and a central figure in educational reform. Sidgi authored seven educational textbooks of significant pedagogical value, including "Nümuneyi-Əxlaq" (Model of Morality), "Töhfeyi-Bənat" (A Gift for Girls), and "A Concise Treatise on Geography". Manuscripts of his works are preserved in the Manuscript Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan. An active member of the "Anjuman-i Shu'ara" (Poets’ Society) in Ordubad, Sidgi left a substantial literary legacy, comprising over 300 ghazals, a long didactic poem titled "Masnaviyyat-i Ma'naviyya", the poetic narrative "Kabb Nasir", and the philosophical treatise "A Look at the Statue of Man" (published in book form in 1912). He also wrote more than 20 short stories, several of which laid the foundation for Azerbaijani children's prose. His “school tales,” including "Regular Attendance," "The Story of the Generous Child," and "The Lying Boy," conveyed moral and pedagogical ideals in a literary form. These stories emphasized truthfulness, generosity, diligence, and other virtues, reflecting Sidgi’s dedication to both moral education and literary innovation. A celebrated organizer of cultural events and theater performances, Sidgi also played a role in commemorating literary milestones. In 1899, he organized the centennial celebration of A.S. Pushkin's birth at the Tarbiya School, delivering a speech that was later published as a booklet (1914). As a publicist, Sidgi contributed to major periodicals such as “Tarjuman” (Bakhchasaray), “Akhtar” (Istanbul), “Hablulmatin” (Calcutta), “Kaspi” (Baku), and “Nasiri” (Tabriz). He also sought to publish a newspaper in the Azerbaijani language titled "Chiraq" (The Lamp). In recognition of his legacy, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic declared 2004 the Year of Sidgi, marking his 150th anniversary with commemorative events, publication of selected poems, and the naming of institutions in his honor—including the Nakhchivan State Puppet Theatre and schools in Nakhchivan and Ordubad. Mahammad Taghi Sidgi’s grave is located in the city of Nakhchivan.

Mammad Araz

Ibrahimov Mammad Infil oglu, was born on October 14, 1933, in the village of Nurs, Shahbuz district, Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. He commenced his primary education in 1940 at the village school in Nurs, Shahbuz District. In 1945, his father, Infil, was exiled to Siberia on charges of being an "enemy of the people." In 1950, he enrolled at the Faculty of Geography of the Azerbaijan Pedagogical Institute (API), while simultaneously pursuing his literary interests. In 1951, he actively participated in the sessions of a literary circle organized by the writer Ismayil Shikhli. Upon graduating from API in 1954, he presented his poem "Separation," dedicated to his fellow graduates, during the official graduation ceremony. Between 1955 and 1956, Mammad Ibrahimov worked as a teacher in the village of Nurs, Shahbuz District. In 1957, he was appointed as a representative at the Main Press Department under the Council of Ministers of Azerbaijan. That same year, he became a member of the Union of Writers of Azerbaijan. On November 8, 1958, he married. In 1959, his first collection of poems, Song of Love (Sevgi nəğməsi), was published by Azernashr.
In 1959, he was admitted to the two-year Higher Literary Courses named after Maxim Gorky under the Union of Writers of the USSR in Moscow. In 1963, he was promoted to the position of head of the Department of Literary Publications at the Azerbaijan State Publishing House.
Məmməd Araz served as the head of the poetry section of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union from 1971 until 1981. In 1972, he was dismissed from his position as deputy editor-in-chief of the "Literature and Art" newspaper due to materials published in a special issue dedicated to the 100th anniversary of N. Narimanov's birth, which were considered nationalistic.
In 1974, Araz became the Editor-in-Chief of the newly founded "Nature of Azerbaijan" magazine, a position he held until the end of his life. His first collection of publicist essays, "The Colors of Life and Word", was published in the same year.
Mammad Araz was named People’s Poet of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 1991 and awarded the Independence Order (İstiqlal Ordeni)—the highest state honor of independent Azerbaijan—in 1995. His later works include the essay collections "Conversation at a Crossroads" (1997) and "There Is No Final Destination in Art" (2001). His poetry collection "Voice Etched on the Rocks" was published in Tabriz in Arabic script in 2002. In 2004, a two-volume collection of his selected works was printed by state decree.
Mammad Araz passed away on December 1, 2004, and was buried in the Alley of Honor in Baku.

Mammad Jafar

Mammad Jafar Zeynalabdin oglu Jafarov, known as Mammad Jafar, (Born: May 9, 1909, Nakhchivan – Died: May 11, 1992, Baku) was one of the leading figures in 20th-century Azerbaijani literary criticism and philology. As a scholar, educator, and literary historian, his intellectual contributions significantly shaped Azerbaijani literature's theoretical and historical discourse. Jafar completed his early education at the Nakhchivan Pedagogical College (1932) and later graduated from the Faculty of Language and Literature at the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical Institute in 1935, followed by postgraduate studies in 1938. From 1935 to 1959, he served in various academic and editorial roles, including positions as lecturer, dean, head of department at Baku State University, and editor of the "Ədəbiyyat Qəzeti" (Literature Newspaper). He also led the Criticism and Literary Studies Section of the Azerbaijan Writers’ Union. A prominent member of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, Jafar became a Corresponding Member in 1968, a Full Academician in 1976, and an Honored Scientist of the Azerbaijan Republic in 1982. He received the State Prize of Azerbaijan in 1976. Jafar held key academic leadership roles at the Nizami Institute of Literature, serving as head of the Modern Literature Department (1959–1963), the Department of Literary Theory (1963–1982), and later as the Institute’s Director (1980–1981). From 1981, he was the Academic-Secretary of the Division of Literature, Language, and Arts at the National Academy.
His scholarly works cover a broad spectrum of Azerbaijani and Russian literary history, literary theory, aesthetics, and pedagogy. Notable monographs include "About Our Classics" (1948), "M. F. Akhundov’s Literary Views" (1950), "Fuzuli the Thinker" (1959), "Huseyn Javid" (1960), "Romanticism in 20th Century Azerbaijani Literature" (1963), "Jalil Mammadguluzadeh" (1966), and "Nizami’s World of Thought" (1981). His critical engagement with Russian literature and Azerbaijani-Russian literary relations is exemplified in works such as "Essays on the History of Russian Literature" (1939), "From the History of Azerbaijani-Russian Literary Relations" (1964), and "Russian Classics" (1964). Jafar also addressed educational and aesthetic issues in books like "Aesthetic Taste, Family, and School" (1954), "Literary Reflections" (1958), "On Aesthetic Taste" (1965), "The Thinker’s Personality" (1966), and others. He was among the co-authors of the three-volume "History of Azerbaijani Literature" (1957–1960). In addition to his critical and scholarly works, Mammad Jafar also wrote fiction, notably the short story collection "Strange People" (1981). He was honored with the Order of the Red Banner of Labour, the Order of the Badge of Honour (twice), and several medals. He served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Academy’s journal "News of the Azerbaijan SSR: Series of Literature, Language, and Art", and chaired the Republican Coordinating Council on the Development of World Literature. Mammad Jafar passed away in 1992 and was buried in the Alley of Honor.

Mammad Said Ordubadi

Mammad Said Hajiaga oglu Ordubadi (Born: 1872, Ordubad – Died: 1950, Baku) was a prominent Azerbaijani literary figure whose multifaceted contributions as a poet, writer, playwright, and literary publicist marked him as one of the foundational figures in the evolution of modern Azerbaijani literature.
Born in Ordubad in 1872, Ordubadi received his education at home and experienced hardship early in life, losing his father, the poet Hajiaga Faghiri, at a young age. At 14, he began working in a silk factory, a formative experience that shaped his sensitivity to social injustice. His first poem was published in 1903 in the newspaper Sharg-i-Rus. His first collection of poetry, "Ghaflat" (Negligence), was published in 1906. A dedicated public intellectual, Ordubadi contributed to several periodicals of the time, including Irshad, Taraqqi, Taza Hayat, Birlik, and especially the influential satirical magazine Molla Nasraddin. His early poetic and prose work, often satirical in tone, dealt with themes of social reform, freedom, and enlightenment. Ordubadi's novel "Vətən və Hürriyyət" (Homeland and Freedom) expressed strong calls for national liberation. In his didactic and socially conscious novels such as "İki Çocuğun Avropaya Səyahəti" (Two Children’s Journey to Europe) and "Bədbəxt Milyonçu" (The Unfortunate Millionaire), he critiqued the feudal structures in Iran and advocated for education and modernization. His trilogy — "Dumanlı Təbriz" (Foggy Tabriz), "Döyüşən Şəhər" (The Fighting City), and "Gizli Bakı" (Secret Baku) — depicts the popular liberation movements in Azerbaijan, combining historical narrative with literary artistry. His celebrated historical novel "Qılınc və Qələm" (The Sword and the Pen) explores the life and intellectual legacy of the great medieval Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi, offering a unique literary reimagining of the poet’s world. Ordubadi also wrote several dramatic works, librettos for operas and operettas, and engaged in journalistic and literary publicism. He translated Alexander Pushkin’s "The Fountain of Bakhchisaray" and "Boris Godunov" into Azerbaijani, making major works of Russian literature accessible to Azerbaijani readers. His own works have been translated into numerous languages, extending his influence beyond the Azerbaijani-speaking world. His poems were set to music by notable composers such as Fikrat Amirov and Said Rustamov, attesting to the lyrical power of his verse. Ordubadi was elected multiple times as a deputy to the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan and received various state awards and honors. Mammad Said Ordubadi passed away in 1950 in Baku. He is memorialized in numerous ways across Azerbaijan — with streets, schools, and libraries bearing his name, an official museum in his hometown of Ordubad, and busts erected in both Ordubad and Nakhchivan.

Musa Rustamov

Musa Ismayil oglu Rustamov (Born: May 8, 1930, Ordubad – Died: November 29, 2022) was a leading Azerbaijani scientist in the fields of petroleum refining and petrochemical technology, recognized as one of the founders of the scientific school of petrochemistry in Azerbaijan, Chemist-Technologist, Doctor of Technical Sciences (1968), Professor (1971), Full Member of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (1989), Honored Scientist of Azerbaijan (1979), Laureate of the State Prize of Azerbaijan (1982). . He graduated from the Azerbaijan Industrial Institute (now Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University) in 1952. Rustamov dedicated his professional life to the Y. H. Mammadaliyev Institute of Petrochemical Processes of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, where he held various scientific and administrative positions. From 1968, he served as Deputy Director, and from 1988 onward, as Director of the institute. His scientific work encompassed a wide range of problems in heterogeneous catalytic technology, the development of efficient schemes for petroleum processing, and the creation of innovative catalytic systems and technological solutions for the catalytic processing of crude oil. Under his leadership, original technologies for hydrocracking and destructive hydroisomerization were developed, enabling the production of high-octane isocomponents of gasoline and isopentane. These processes were implemented at refineries in Moscow, Baku, Kazan, Pavlodar, Burgas (Bulgaria), and other cities. Rustamov was also a pioneer in hydrogen energy research in Azerbaijan.
He authored nearly 500 scientific articles and held over 100 patents and inventor’s certificates. He actively participated in numerous international congresses and symposia, including events held in Moscow (1968), London (1976), Prague (1982), Buenos Aires (1990), Budapest (1991), Kyoto (1994), Baltimore, Boston, Stuttgart (1996), and San Diego (1997). As a founder and organizer of the Baku International Petrochemical Conferences (1994, 1996, 1998, 2000), Rustamov significantly contributed to global scientific dialogue in the petrochemical field. He was also instrumental in training scientific personnel, supervising a new generation of researchers and specialists. He served as the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Petrochemical and Petroleum Refining Processes and was an active member of several international scientific councils and associations. For his outstanding scientific achievements, Musa Rustamov was awarded the “Shohrat” Order (Order of Glory) in 2014. He passed away on November 29, 2022.

Muzaffar Abutalibov

Muzzaffar Heydar oglu Abutalibov (Born: December 14, 1908, Ordubad – Died: November 8, 1984, Baku) was a pioneering Azerbaijani plant physiologist and the first Azerbaijani scientist to earn a Doctor of Sciences degree in this field (1944), Professor (1950), Full Member of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (1968). M. Abutalibov played a significant role in the development of plant physiology in Azerbaijan and contributed immensely to agricultural science in the Soviet Union. He graduated from the Agriculture Faculty of the Azerbaijan Polytechnic Institute in 1930. Throughout his career, he held leading scientific and academic positions, including: Senior Researcher at the Azerbaijan Scientific Research Institute of Cotton (1930s–1940s), Head of Department and Deputy Director at the Institute of Botany of the Azerbaijan Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences (1935–1947), Chair of Plant Physiology at Azerbaijan State University (1949–1959), Director of the Institute of Genetics and Selection (1960–1962) and the Institute of Botany (1947–1949; 1962–1978) of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences, Head of the Department of Plant Physiology at the Institute of Botany, which he established and led until his death (1978–1984).
His research focused on improving the productivity of agricultural crops such as cotton and potatoes, particularly through the use of microelement nutrition. He explored the theoretical and practical aspects of plant mineral nutrition, the influence of microelements on nitrogen-fixing soil microorganisms like Azotobacter, and the mechanisms of absorption, translocation, and intracellular distribution of minerals in plants. Professor Abutalibov authored over 220 scientific articles, several monographs, and university-level textbooks. He was a prominent participant in numerous scientific congresses, including international meetings on biochemistry (1961), botany (1969), and biophysics (1973). He was an active member of various scientific councils and societies and played a pivotal role in the training of future scientific personnel in plant sciences in Azerbaijan. Muzzaffar Abutalibov passed away on November 8, 1984. He was laid to rest in the Alley of Honor.

Nadir Seyidov

Nadir Miribrahim oglu Seyidov (Born: April 28, 1932, Nakhchivan – Died: October 5, 2015) was a prominent Azerbaijani chemist and a distinguished specialist in polymer chemistry and petrochemical synthesis, Doctor of Chemical Sciences (1968), Professor (1969), Full Member of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (2001). His pioneering contributions to the chemistry of high-molecular-weight compounds have earned him national and international recognition. He graduated from the Faculty of Chemistry of Baku State University (BDU) in 1955 and completed postgraduate studies at the Institute of Petroleum Chemistry of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences in 1960. He dedicated his scientific career to research institutions such as the Azerbaijan State Research Institute of Olefins (ADETOI) and later the Y. H. Mammadaliyev Institute of Petrochemical Processes of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.
From 1962 to 1978, he led the Elastomers Laboratory, and from 1979 to 1993, he was head of the Department of Elastomers and Hydrocarbon Additives. Between 1993 and 1997, he served as Deputy Director for Scientific Affairs and, from 1997 onward, was the Head of a laboratory at the Institute of Petrochemical Processes. Seyidov's research focused on the synthesis of new synthetic rubbers based on olefins, including the development of technologies for producing monomers essential to their industrial manufacture. He developed highly active and stable catalysts, which proved to be 2–3 times more efficient than conventional alternatives in polymerization, oligomerization, and activation reactions. These catalysts were successfully tested and implemented at industrial facilities in Sumgayit, Tolyatti, and Nizhnekamsk.
He also conducted effective research on the thermal degradation of ethylene-propylene copolymers, leading to the production of valuable materials, particularly high-viscosity additives and oils that remain fluid at temperatures as low as −70°C. Nadir Seyidov authored 4 monographs, over 250 scientific publications, and held 100 author certificates and patents in 20 countries, including the USA, Germany, Italy, Japan, and others. He was actively involved in academic teaching and mentoring, contributing to the training of scientific personnel. He represented Azerbaijani science at numerous international symposia and conferences held in countries such as Italy, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Poland, Türkiye, Russia, and Finland. He was the recipient of various state orders and medals for his scientific achievements. Nadir Seyidov passed away on October 5, 2015.

Najmaddin Nakhchivani

Nakhchivani Najmaddin ibn Ahmad ibn Abubakr ibn Mahammad (born: ?, Nakhchivan – after 1253, Aleppo, Syria) was a prominent medieval Azerbaijani philosopher known for his deep engagement with Islamic philosophy, natural sciences, and logic. He received his early education in Nakhchivan, where he mastered various fields of knowledge. He spent part of his life in Azerbaijan, including a period of scholarly work at the Maragha Observatory, one of the major centers of scientific thought in the Islamic world. The Arab historian Ibn al-Ibri (Abu al-Faraj, 1226–1286) describes Nakhchivani in his Mukhtasar Tarikh al-Duval ("Abridged History of States") as "a man of great virtue and a profound expert in the precise sciences." His departure from his homeland is believed to have been prompted by political instability. He later served as vizier to Amir Jalaladdin Garatay, but, disillusioned by the corruption and injustice in the upper echelons of power, he abandoned court life in protest and moved to Aleppo, where he lived the remainder of his life in seclusion. Ibn al-Ibri further recounts: "He set out to travel through many lands and eventually arrived in Rum (Asia Minor), where he held high offices."
Nakhchivani’s philosophical contributions were highly esteemed by contemporary and later scholars. The Arab chronicler Ibn Bibi compared him to "a stormy sea and a rain-bearing cloud in all sciences and disciplines," praising his mastery of both religious and secular knowledge. A key figure in Islamic peripatetic philosophy, he was deeply influenced by Ibn Sina (Avicenna) but also critically engaged with his doctrines. He wrote commentaries on Ibn Sina’s “Canon of Medicine” and “Pointers and Reminders” and placed significant emphasis on logic and natural philosophy. Unlike many of his peripatetic contemporaries, Nakhchivani was inclined toward the doctrine of metempsychosis (transmigration of souls)—a belief not aligned with orthodox Islam. This demonstrates his independent philosophical stance, as he reinterpreted Ibn Sina’s works without strict adherence to prevailing religious dogma. Manuscript copies of his works are preserved in several major archives: his commentary on the “Canon of Medicine” is held at the National Library of France in Paris, his commentary on “Pointers and Reminders” is found in Ayasofya, Nuruosmaniye, and Köprülü Libraries in Türkiye, his treatise "Essence of Logic and Summary of Philosophy" is housed at the al-Mashhad al-Alawi Manuscript Collection in Najaf, Iraq.

Nasreddin Tusi

Nasiraddin Tusi Mahammad ibn Mahammad ibn Hasan (February 17, 1201, Tus – June 25, 1274, Baghdad) was a distinguished Azerbaijani scholar, a great encyclopedic thinker, philosopher, and socio-political figure. He received his initial education from his father and uncle, later studying extensively in Khorasan across various fields of the humanities and the exact sciences. In 1259, Nasiraddin Tusi established the Maragha Observatory, which stands as one of his most significant contributions to world science and culture. He brought together over 100 scholars from different nations and created favorable conditions for their scientific endeavors. A madrasa affiliated with the observatory offered instruction in all branches of knowledge of the time, encompassing scientific, religious, philosophical, and socio-political disciplines. The madrasa also housed a rich library with more than 400,000 volumes. Nasiraddin Tusi died while on a visit to Baghdad and, according to his will, was buried in the sacred city of Kazimeyn nearby. His three sons—Sadraddin Ali, Asiladdin Hasan, and Fakhraddin Ahmad—also pursued careers in scholarship and public service. Tusi’s descendants later settled in the region of Nakhchivan and became well-known in the fields of science, literature, and the arts. A decree by Shah Abbas I (1587–1629) granting full tax exemption to the people of Ordubad due to the Tusi family's presence in the area is inscribed on a stone tablet above the entrance of the Great Juma Mosque in Ordubad, built in the 17th century. Nasiraddin Tusi’s worldview is thoroughly expressed in his theological, philosophical, political, and ethical writings. He placed significant emphasis on the concept of free will in his works. As a prominent follower of the Ibn Sina and Bahmanyar school, Tusi developed and expanded their ideas. His ethical and socio-political views are most comprehensively outlined in his 1235 treatise “Akhlaqi Nasiri” (Nasirean Ethics). In this work, he analyzes human character from multiple angles, explores both virtuous and reprehensible traits, and identifies qualities that lead to human perfection, goodness, and happiness. In his writings on Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), Tusi adopted a humanistic stance, regarding the safeguarding of societal peace and well-being as a core principle. Tusi was also an author of treatises on poetic theory, music, and philosophical poetry. His contributions to mathematics, astronomy, and physics are unparalleled. In his astronomical work “Zij- Elkhani”, he precisely determined the geocentric orbital elements of the planets and their daily mean motions—data that were more accurate than both contemporary and even 17th-century astronomical observations. Under his leadership, the annual precession of the Earth's axis was calculated as 51.24 arcseconds (modern value: 51.22). The Zij-i Ilkhani contains numerous mathematical, astronomical, and geographical tables, including three-digit sine and tangent tables in base-60 notation and a table of the geographical coordinates of 256 major cities. The Italian cartographer Paolo Toscanelli, mentor to Christopher Columbus, later utilized this data. These tables were published in London (1652) and Oxford (1711) in Arabic and Latin. At the Maragha Observatory, the Azerbaijani engineer Karim al-Din Salmasi created a geographical globe in 1266, predating the work of the German scholar Martin Behaim (1459–1507) by two centuries. Tusi's “Tahrir al-Uqlidis” (“Commentary on Euclid”) was instrumental in the development of geometry. It was published in Arabic (Rome, 1594) and Latin (17th century) and influenced European mathematicians such as Adrien-Marie Legendre, John Wallis, and Giovanni Saccheri. In this work and in “The Foundations of Geometry”, Tusi presented his own theory regarding Euclid’s fifth postulate and explored the angle sum of triangles. He expanded upon the theory of ratios introduced by Archimedes in On the Sphere and Cylinder and The Quadrature of the Circle. His definition of number closely aligns with the modern conception, and he was 400 years ahead of European mathematicians in this regard. He formulated Menelaus’s theorem and the core theorems and formulas of modern trigonometry, derived the sides of a spherical triangle from its angles, and offered a dialectical definition of discrete and continuous quantities. In his work on arithmetic, Tusi provided the first explanation in the history of mathematics of the root extraction of arbitrary powers from integers, illustrated patterns in binomial coefficients, and verbally expressed the Newtonian binomial theorem. Tusi considered physics, in its broadest sense, to include all branches of natural science. His studies addressed both simple and compound bodies and natural phenomena such as thunder, lightning, rain, snow, and earthquakes. He also analyzed the composition of substances (mineralogy), plant types and properties (botany), voluntary and involuntary movement in living beings (zoology), and the characteristics of the human rational soul (psychology). He regarded medicine and agricultural science as auxiliary branches of physics. The discoveries and inventions of Tusi and his colleagues at the Maragha Observatory greatly enriched human scientific thought. He was bestowed titles such as “the eleventh intellect” (al-‘aql al-hadi ‘ashar)—referring to his extraordinary intellect in the tradition of Islamic philosophy—and “master of humanity” (ustadh al-bashar) in recognition of his unparalleled contributions. In 1981, the 780th anniversary of his birth was widely celebrated. A commemorative medal was issued in his honor, monuments were erected, and his portrait (painted by national artist Najafgulu) was created. Various educational and scientific institutions in Azerbaijan, including the Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory of the National Academy of Sciences, have been named after him. His 800th anniversary was officially commemorated globally under the auspices of UNESCO, and a Presidential Decree titled "On the 800th Anniversary of Nasiraddin Tusi" was issued on June 13, 2000, by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, establishing a state commission and organizing celebratory events.

Rafig Mehdiyev

Rafig Mahmud oglu Mehdiyev was born on June 10, 1933, in the Shahbuz district of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. He received his secondary education in Baku at School No. 31. From 1948 to 1953, he studied at the State Art School named after Azim Azimzade, and between 1953 and 1958, he continued his education at the Faculty of Graphics of the Surikov State Art Institute in Moscow. Mehdiyev began his professional career in 1962 as an instructor at the State Art School named after Azim Azimzade. He subsequently served as dean at the Azerbaijan State Institute of Arts named after M. Aliyev and later as a professor at the Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts. In recognition of his contributions to the arts, he was awarded the honorary title of Honored Artist in 1980. He received the academic title of Associate Professor in 1988 and was named Professor and People’s Artist in 1992. From 2003 onward, he was a recipient of a presidential scholarship. Rafiq Mehdiyev was elected multiple times as a deputy to the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan SSR. The prominent artist passed away on November 28, 2009, in Baku.

Rahim Rahimov

Rahim Nurmammad oghlu Rahimov (b. August 13, 1923, Ordubad, Azerbaijan – d. July 6, 2013) was a prominent radiologist and academic. He held a Doctor of Medical Sciences degree (1969), was awarded the title of Professor (1970), and was elected a full member (academician) of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences in 1989 (corresponding member since 1983). He was also recognized as an Honored Scientist (1981) and awarded the distinction of Excellence in Healthcare (1964). Rahimov graduated from the Treatment and Prophylaxis Faculty of the Azerbaijan Medical Institute (now Azerbaijan Medical University) in 1950, and completed his postgraduate studies at the Research Institute of Radiology and Radiotherapy under the Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan in 1957. He held numerous key scientific and administrative roles: Senior Researcher at the Research Institute of Radiology, Radiotherapy, and Oncology (1962–1970), Deputy Director for Scientific Affairs (1970–1974), and Director of the institute (1975–1990). From 1990 onward, he served as the Head of the Department of Radiation Diagnostics at the National Oncology Center under the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Professor Rahimov authored foundational works on the differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases, with a special focus on radiographic and morphological changes in the alimentary canal, stomach, and large intestine. He developed a novel method for radiological diagnosis of colon pathologies, the results of which were published in the former USSR, Japan, and Germany. He was the author of over 130 scientific publications. Rahimov chaired the Specialized Scientific Council for the defense of doctoral and candidate dissertations, led the Republican Scientific Society of Radiologists and Radiotherapists (1965–1985), and was a member of the Plenum of the USSR Scientific Society of Radiologists, Radiotherapists, and Oncologists (1970–1990). He also served on the editorial board of the journal Radiology and Radiotherapy News (Moscow) from 1975 to 1997, and since 1976, was a board member of the journal Issues of Oncology (Saint Petersburg). Internationally recognized, he was named “Man of the Year” by the American Biographical Institute in 1997 and received the institute’s Gold Medal in 1999. Professor Rahimov was decorated with the Order of the Red Banner of Labour and the Order of Glory for his contributions to science and medicine. He passed away on July 6, 2013.

Ramiz Mirshli

Ramiz Agil oghlu Mirishli was born on April 16, 1934, in the city of Nakhchivan. He was a People's Artist of the Republic of Azerbaijan (1990) and was awarded the academic title of Professor in 1993. He was the son of Mir Agil Mirishli.
In 1954, he graduated from the Baku Music College named after Asaf Zeynalli, and in 1962, he completed his studies in the Composition Department of the Azerbaijan State Conservatory (now the Baku Music Academy). Following his graduation, he worked as a senior editor in the Music Department of the Azerbaijan State Radio and Television Committee beginning in 1962. From 1963 onward, he served as a lecturer in the Department of Folk Instruments at the Baku Music Academy, where he was appointed Professor in 1993. Since 1996, he also held the position of Chief Editor of the Music Editorial Board at the Azerbaijan State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company. Between 1987 and 1995, he was the artistic director of the Song and Dance Ensemble of the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic.
Ramiz Mirishli was a prolific composer, with a diverse body of work that includes: 12 preludes for piano, a piano trio, a string quartet, two symphonic poems, a concerto for tar and symphony orchestra, a symphony for chamber orchestra, numerous scores for films and theatrical performances, concertos and suites for folk instrument orchestras, three ballet suites, over 500 songs and romances, the operettas "The Abducted Girl" and "Let’s Be Relatives", nine symphonic suites, a variety of music for children, among others.
He was a central figure in Azerbaijani musical life and served as the head of the Nakhchivan branch of the Union of Composers of Azerbaijan from 1978 to 1998. The theme of Nakhchivan held special importance in his creative work. Notable compositions include: “Nakhchivan Sketches”, a suite for folk instrument orchestra, “Native Land”, a vocal-orchestral suite based on the poetry of Mammad Araz, and numerous songs to the lyrics of poets such as Islam Safarli, Mammad Araz, and Fikrat Goja. For his services to Azerbaijani music and culture, Ramiz Mirishli was awarded the Orders of “Glory” (Shohrat) and “Honor” (Sharaf). Ramiz Mirishli passed away on April 17, 2015, and was laid to rest in the First Alley of Honor in Baku.

Ramiz Rizayev

Ramiz Hasangulu oghlu Rizayev (b. November 2, 1939, Nakhchivan city) is a distinguished Azerbaijani chemist. He holds a Doctor of Chemical Sciences degree (1974), has been a Professor since 1977, and became a full member (academician) of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences in 2001 (having been a corresponding member since 1983). He graduated from the Faculty of Chemistry at Azerbaijan State University (now Baku State University) in 1962. From 1962 to 1973, he worked as a research associate and senior research fellow at the Institute of Petrochemical Processes of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. Between 1973 and 1985, he headed a laboratory at the same institute. From 1985 to 1993, he served as Director of the Institute of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. Since 1993, Ramiz Rizayev has served as the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Russian Federation. His primary research focuses on the theoretical and applied aspects of oxidative ammonolysis reactions of aromatic compounds. Under his leadership, the technology for producing benzonitrile, phthalonitrile, and terephthalonitrile was developed and implemented for the first time in the former USSR. These compounds serve as the basis for producing new types of plastics, synthetic resins, dyes, stabilizers, and other materials. Professor Rizayev is the author of approximately 250 scientific works and holds 50 certificates of authorship. More than 30 patents based on his inventions have been issued in countries including the United States, Japan, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, and others. His research has been published in leading international scientific journals. He has delivered papers at international scientific conferences held in Romania (1971), Germany (1972), the Netherlands (1976, 1981, 1982), and Sweden (1978). From 1981 to 1991, he was a member of the Soviet–Dutch working group on cooperation in the field of chemical industry. He also conducted joint research with AKZO’s scientific centers in Manchester and Amsterdam, as well as with academic institutions in Leipzig (Germany) and Hyderabad (India).

Seyfaddin Aliyev

Seyfaddin Vali oghlu Aliyev was born on May 30, 1930, in the village of Alishar, Sharur District, Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. He graduated from the Nakhchivan Medical College in 1947 and later completed his studies at the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology of the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical Institute in 1951. Since 1952, he has been affiliated with the Institute of Zoology of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS).
Aliyev is recognized as the first scientist to comprehensively study the moths (Noctuidae) of Azerbaijan. He identified and recorded 716 species and 84 forms, of which 390 were new to the fauna of Azerbaijan, 145 to the South Caucasus, and 67 to the former USSR. Additionally, 61 species were identified as harmful pests for the first time. His work involved detailed research into the distribution, development, bioecology, feeding relationships, and ecological and zoogeographical classification of these species across various zones and biotopes. He also produced distribution maps of cotton pests and developed quantitative criteria for using entomophagous (insect-predatory) species in controlling cotton bollworms. These findings were practically applied in agricultural settings. Aliyev is a co-author of the “Zoology” textbook for 7th–8th grade students, a contributor to the ten-volume “Azerbaijan National Encyclopedia”, and the second volume of the “Animal Kingdom”. He has authored five scientific monographs and five university-level textbooks, and he served as the editor and translator of the two-volume textbook “Invertebrate Zoology”, totaling 55 printed sheets.
In 2007, he was elected a full member (academician) of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. He currently serves as the Head of the Entomology Laboratory and Department at the Institute of Zoology of ANAS.

Shamil Mahmudbeyov

Shamil Faramaz oglu Mahmudbeyov (December 5, 1924, Nakhchivan – June 18, 1997, Baku) was a prominent Azerbaijani film director. He was awarded the honorary title of Honored Art Worker of the Azerbaijan SSR in 1976 and became a Laureate of the Azerbaijan State Prize in 1969. Mahmudbeyov graduated from the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) in Moscow in 1954. He worked at the "Azerbaijanfilm" film studio, where he began his career directing documentaries and short films, later transitioning to full-length feature films. Among his most notable works are: "Romeo is My Neighbor" (1963), "Gypsy Girl" (1965), "Earth. Sea. Fire. Sky" (1967), "Shared Bread" (1969), "Life tries us" (1971), "The Adventure of the Violin" (1972), "Dervish Blows Up Paris" (1976, co-directed with Kamil Rustambeyov), "When the Owl Comes" (1978), "In Fire" (1978).
His contributions to Azerbaijani cinema were recognized with the Azerbaijan SSR State Prize in 1970 and the honorary title of Honored Art Worker in 1976. Mahmudbeyov is remembered for his significant role in shaping the narrative and visual style of Azerbaijani film in the Soviet era.

Shirali Mammadov

Shirali Mammadov Nasirzadeh (December 25, 1904, Dasta village, Ordubad district – 1984, Baku) was a distinguished Azerbaijani scientist in mining engineering. He held the title of Doctor of Technical Sciences (1948), Professor (1948), and was elected as a full member (Academician) of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences in 1968 (corresponding member since 1959). Mammadov graduated from the Moscow Mining Academy in 1930. He began his professional career as head of the capital construction department of the Magnitogorsk mining administration (1932–1933) and later served as the director of the Julfa arsenic plant under "Soyuzmyshyak" (1934–1936). From 1938 to 1939, he worked as an associate professor and head of the department of ore deposit exploitation at the Moscow Mining Institute. During the Great Patriotic War (1941–1945), Mammadov was chief engineer and later director of the Nakhchivan salt mine, and from 1944 to 1945, he served as the Second Secretary of the Nakhchivan Regional Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan. Between 1950 and 1953, he led the construction of the Dashkasan mining complex. He held several prominent academic and administrative positions, including Head of the Department of Geophysics and Vice-Rector for Research at Baku State University (1948–1950; 1953–1959), Chairman of the Committee for Higher and Secondary Specialized Education of the Azerbaijan SSR (1959–1961), and Head of the Mining Division at the Institute of Geology of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (from 1958 until the end of his life). Mammadov’s scientific work focused on the development and optimization of underground and open-pit mining systems and technologies for ore deposits. He authored 169 scientific publications, including 13 monographs, 5 textbooks, and teaching manuals, and made substantial contributions to the training of scientific personnel. He was elected as a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan SSR (3rd convocation) and was awarded numerous honors, including the Medal for Distinguished Labor (1939), the Medal for the Defense of the Caucasus (1945), the Medal for Labor Valor in the Great Patriotic War (1945), the Veteran of Labor Medal (1977), and the Order of the Red Banner of Labor (1946).

Toghrul Shahtakhtinski

Toghrul Nemat oglu Shahtakhtinski (born October 22, 1925, Baku – died October 8, 2010) was a prominent Azerbaijani chemist and technologist. He held the degree of Doctor of Chemical Sciences (1968), was a professor (1968), and was elected a full member (Academician) of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) in 1976 (corresponding member since 1972). He was honored with the title of Honored Scientist of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 1991. Shahtakhtinski graduated from the Faculty of Chemical Technology of the Azerbaijan Industrial Institute (now the Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University) in 1949 and completed his postgraduate studies at the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences' Institute of Petroleum (1952). From 1962 to 1974, he headed a laboratory at the Institute of Petrochemical Processes of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. Between 1971 and 1973, he led the Nakhchivan Regional Scientific Center. He served as the academic secretary of the Department of Chemical Sciences at ANAS (1973–1981, 1990–1997) and, from 1975 onward, as director of the Institute of Theoretical Problems of Chemical Technology named after M. Naghiyev, as well as head of its Laboratory of Oxidation Processes. In 1997, he was appointed Chief Academic Secretary of ANAS. He also served as editor-in-chief of the journal Azerbaijan Chemical Journal beginning in 1975. His scientific research focused on the genetics and mechanisms of chemical reactions, the catalytic transformations of hydrocarbons in organic and petrochemical synthesis, modeling and optimizing chemical processes, and the theoretical foundations of chemical technology. Shahtakhtinski was a notable scholar in petroleum chemistry, the kinetics and mechanisms of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic reactions, the theory and technology of non-stationary catalytic processes, and the study of bioorganic and enzymatic systems. He authored over 500 scientific publications, including 11 monographs, and held 130 inventions and patents. Shahtakhtinski represented Azerbaijani science at numerous international congresses and symposia in Germany (1963, 1969, 1971, 1996), Romania (1996), Japan (1974, 1975, 1998, 2000), France (1980), Bulgaria (1983), Hungary (1983, 1986, 1989), the USA (1977, 1979, 1990, 1997), Türkiye (1992, 1993, 1996), the Netherlands (1996), and Belgium (1998, 2000). His works were published in authoritative scientific journals in countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, Hungary, and Romania.
He played a key role in the training of scientific personnel and was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor and the Order of Friendship of Peoples for his contributions. Toghrul Shahtakhtinski passed away on 8 October 2010.

Yusif Mammedaliyev

Yusif Heydar oglu Mammadaliyev was born in 1905 in the city of Ordubad. He was a Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Professor, Academician of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences, Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences, and a laureate of the USSR State Prize. In 1926, he graduated from the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical Institute.
Following his graduation, Mammadaliyev worked as a teacher at the Ganja Pedagogical Technical School and the Iravan Pedagogical Institute. Between 1932 and 1933, he was employed at the Azerbaijan Agricultural Institute, and from 1933 to 1945, he worked at the Scientific Research Institute of Oil Refining. From 1945 to 1951, he served as the director of this institute. Between 1951 and 1954, Mammadaliyev held the position of academic secretary of the Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Oil at the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences. From 1954 to 1958, he served as the rector of Azerbaijan State University, and from 1958 to 1961, he was president of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences.
His scientific research was primarily devoted to chemistry and the processing and utilization of oil and natural gas. He developed a new type of fuel for jet engines. He authored several significant scientific works, including “Natural Gas of Azerbaijan and Its Application in Chemistry,” “Synthesis of Toluene from Aromatic Hydrocarbons through Alkylation and Dealkylation,” and “The Development of Science in Azerbaijan.”
Yusif Mammadaliyev was elected as a deputy to the Supreme Soviets of both Azerbaijan and the USSR and was decorated with numerous orders and medals. He passed away in Baku in 1961. The Institute of Petrochemical Processes of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences, the Ordubad Silk Production Plant, and one of the streets in Baku bear his name. Monuments to his memory have been erected in Baku and Ordubad, and a house museum has been established in his hometown.

SOURCES: Nakhchivan Encyclopedia, Volumes I–II, Nakhchivan, 2005. www.nakhchivan.az shexsiyyetler.nakhchivan.az www.preslib.az Copyright © 2009–2025 Presidential Library. All rights reserved. Citation is required when using the information.