Ayaz Mutallibov
Ayaz Niyazi oghlu Mutallibov (, ; 12 May 1938 – 27 March 2022) was an Azerbaijani politician who served as the first president of Azerbaijan. He was the last leader of Soviet Azerbaijan, and first President of Azerbaijan from 18 May 1990 until 6 March 1992 and from 14 May until 18 May 1992. Biography. Ayaz Mutallibov was born on 12 May 1938, in Baku to the family of a physician and later World War II veteran, Niyazi Ashraf oghlu Mutallibov (), and gynaecologist Kubra Mutallibova (died in 1988). Both of his parents were from Shamakhi. In 1956, Ayaz Mutallibov graduated from  the secondary school #189 in Baku. During his youth he was fond of jazz music. He was a member of the school volleyball team. In 1956–62, Mutallibov attended the Azerbaijan State Institute of Petroleum and Chemistry. In 1964, he became the director of the Baku Refrigerator Factory, and in 1974, he was appointed the General Director of the "BakElectroBytMash" State Industrial Company. Exile. Mutallibov was in exile in Moscow from May 1992 until July 2012. In 1994 he published a book called "Karabakh – Black Garden" in Moscow. In April 2000, his followers in Baku declared the formation of the new  Civil Union Party. In 2003 he joined the Azerbaijan Social Democratic Party (ASDP) and became its co-chairman in exile. In July 2012, Mutallibov returned from exile with the permission of President Ilham Aliyev. Family and personal life. Mutallibov was married to Adila Mutallibova, who died in 2019. They had two sons, Azad and Zaur, grandson Tahir and granddaughter Madina. His son Azad died of cancer on 9 August 2011, leaving only Zaur. Mutallibov arrived in Baku to attend his son’s funeral. It was his first visit to the country after 1992.