The state heritage of the architect and founder of modern independent Azerbaijan, the national leader of our people Heydar Aliyev covers a whole stage in the history of Azerbaijan. Thanks to his wise leadership, far-sighted policy and endless love for its people, Azerbaijan has adequately overcome the most difficult times and embarked on the path of stability and development. 

The great leader Heydar Aliyev devoted his entire meaningful life to the development of the Motherland, forever remained in memory as the savior of the nation. The merits of the great leader are always highly valued by the Azerbaijani people, his bright memory is honored with deep respect. 

Every year on May 10, our country celebrates the birthday of the national leader with special respect and honor. The rich archive of AZERTAJ contains thousands of rare photos reflecting the life and work of the great leader Heydar Aliyev. It is thanks to this special project, prepared on the basis of archival materials, that we again present the heritage of the great leader, remember him with a feeling of deep gratitude.

The great leader, who was born on May 10, 1923 in a simple family in the remote village of Nakhchivan, rose to the heights of politics thanks to his will, hard work and endless love for the Motherland. Despite high state positions, the great leader led a modest lifestyle, far from luxury, honored national spiritual values. The family he created with his life partner, the outstanding scientist Zarifa Khan Aliyeva, was built on simplicity, patriotism and spirituality.

The great leader Heydar Aliyev has carried the burden of the Republic of Azerbaijan on his shoulders since 1969. Despite a busy work schedule, he also devoted time to his family. Some photos in the family album belong to the distant past. In these photos we see him with his life partner Zarifa Aliyeva surrounded by his children Ilham and Seville, daughter-in-law Mehriban Khanim, grandsons Leyla, Arzu and Heydar.

These historical photographs eloquently testify to the great leader Heydar Aliyev as a devoted life partner, caring father and good grandfather.

One of the exceptional merits of the national leader Heydar Aliyev to the Azerbaijani people is the education of such a far-sighted Leader devoted to the state and nation as President Ilham Aliyev. One of the joint photos of father and son immortalizes the moment when they stand next to each other and look at distant horizons. This simple but meaningful frame, as if through the years, paints a picture of modern, strong and sovereign Azerbaijan.

This new Azerbaijan, built on the foundations of the statehood of the national leader Heydar Aliyev under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, is a continuation of the great heritage and a bright personification of independence crowned with Victory.

In the 60s of the last century, Azerbaijan was one of the backward outskirts of the former USSR. This unfavorable situation began to change after the election of Heydar Aliyev as the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan at the July plenary session in 1969.

During the years of the leadership of the republic of the national leader Heydar Aliyev, unique enterprises and buildings for that time were built in Baku, which still decorate our capital today, large residential areas were built, and the production of agricultural products was increased many times over. As a result, the standard of living of the population has also improved.

The people were at the center of the philosophy of public administration of the great leader Heydar Aliyev. He regularly traveled to all regions of the country, was in direct contact with workers, personally listened to the problems they faced in their daily lives, and immediately looked for solutions. The idea, work and care of every person were valuable for the outstanding statesman Heydar Aliyev. The photos below take us to those unforgettable years - the days when the great leader was among the people, when he was paternally interested in the problems of everyone who turned to him. These photos are not only a historical document, but also a living part of our national memory.

In 1982, national leader Heydar Aliyev was elected a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, then was appointed First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR. Using his official powers, he sent a number of projects of Union importance to Baku. His turbulent activity and high organizational skills earned him fame throughout the Union.

The archive of AZERTAJ also contains photographs reflecting some moments of the activities of Heydar Aliyev, a member of the Politburo and a second person in the government of the USSR.

The growing authority and glory of Heydar Aliyev caused the envy of the Kremlin leadership. After Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in the USSR, the attitude towards Heydar Aliyev changed. Due to serious disagreements between him and the Secretary General, Heydar Aliyev resigned from his positions in 1987. And when the clouds thickened over his homeland's head, he returned to Azerbaijan.

However, this resignation was not the end of his political activity, but the beginning of a new stage. When the clouds thickened over his homeland and national disasters followed one another, he responded to the call of his people and returned to Azerbaijan. But the leadership of the republic, concerned about the return of the great leader to Baku, tried to prevent him. Nevertheless, national leader Heydar Aliyev did not give up the fight and went to Nakhchivan, where he was born and grew up. The photos taken at that time reflect some moments of the life of the great leader in Nakhchivan.

Elected Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, he defended this region from Armenian aggression and political upheavals. For the first time in seventy years, he raised our tricolor flag in Nakhchivan.

In the 90s of the last century, chaos and anarchy reigned in the republic, there was a threat of loss of independence. In such a difficult period, the people turned to the great leader for help. On June 9, 1993, the plane that took him to Baku landed at Bina airport. The people met their savior with great hope and love.

June 15, 1993. On the day that went down in our history as the Day of Revival, Heydar Aliyev was elected Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Azerbaijan, took responsibility for the fate of the people and the rescue mission. Having prevented two coup attempts, various provocations, he saved the country from the threat of division, loss of independence. The emerging regular army was able to stop the incessant attacks of Armenians on our lands. The meetings of the great leader with soldiers and officers on the front line increased the morale of our army.

On September 20, 1994, the "Contract of the Century" was signed, which became the starting point for the socio-economic development of Azerbaijan. Another important project of the great leader was the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. The second period of Heydar Aliyev's leadership in Azerbaijan is rich in these and other fateful events. The photos show those historical days. Each frame once again reminds of the decisive role of the great leader in the process of transforming Azerbaijan into an independent and strong state.

The liberation of Karabakh from the enemy heel was the greatest dream of the great leader. This sacred dream came true in November 2020. Under the leadership of the victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, our valiant Army put an end to the 30-year occupation in 44 days. As a result of the successful anti-terrorist operation, the sovereignty of our country was fully restored. The raising of our sacred tricolor flag in the cities of Khankendi, Khojaly, Agder, Khojavenda and the village of Asker went down in our history as another unforgettable event by the head of our state, the victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev on the 20th anniversary of his election to the post of President as another unforgettable event. Against the background of new realities, the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Karabakh and the liberation of four villages of Gazakh are effective results of a well-thought-out policy.

Truly today the soul of the great leader rejoiced. Thanks to the solid foundations it has laid over the years, a well-thought-out policy and national solidarity, Azerbaijan has restored its historical justice. Our native lands, which have been in the hands of the enemy for many years, have been liberated, and the territorial integrity of our lands has been ensured. Under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, a worthy successor of the ideas of the great leader, large-scale construction and restoration works are being carried out in the liberated territories. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva demonstrate boundless determination and perseverance in this important process.

Along with the necessary infrastructure facilities in the regions liberated from occupation, residential complexes, schools, medical institutions are being built at an accelerated pace, the foundations of new ones are being laid. This shows how planned, strategically correct and stable the process of the Great Return is. Hundreds of families have already returned to their native lands, in the next three years it is planned to resettle 140 thousand people to these lands. The revival of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur, the revival of life in these lands is not only a triumph of physical, but also spiritual return. This majestic mission of restoration and development is based on the ideas and strategy of national development of the great leader Heydar Aliyev. The top named Heydar Aliyev has been clearly visible in the history of Azerbaijan over the years.

The majestic monument to the great leader Heydar Aliyev on the Alley of Honors became a symbol of eternity and shrine. Every year on May 10 and December 12, there is a flow of people on the Alley of Honors. Tens of thousands of people pass in front of the monument to the great leader, bowing to his bright soul.