Opposition commemorates Abulfaz Elchibeу

Today is the birthday of the late leader of the Azerbaijan national movement of the late 20th century Abulfaz Elchibey.

On this day to commemorate Elchibay his associates, followers, intellectuals gather at the grave of the deceased at the Alley of Honor.

Elchibey was born June 24, 1938 in the village of Keleki, Ordubad in the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic.

After graduating from the Faculty of Oriental Studies of Baku State University, as an interpreter he was involved in the construction of the Aswan Dam in Egypt.

Then he taught at BSU and in these years he joined the dissident movement.

In 1975-76 he was arrested.

In 1988 he headed the national movement and in 1989 he became chairman of the Popular Front.

June 7, 1992 Elchibey was elected president of Azerbaijan. However, in the military revolt a year later he was dismissed from his post as head of state.

Until 1997, he was in forced exile in his native village Keleki.

August 22, 2000 Elchibey died at the age of 62 from a grave illness in Turkey.

The head of the party Musavat Isa Gambar at the memorial meeting noted that Elchibey had restored the ideas of Mamed Emin Rasulzade and the party Musavat of the early 20th century.

"Elchibey is one of the prominent figures in the history of the Turkic world and Azerbaijan. He was a great democrat and humanist. He devoted his life to the independence, freedom and democracy," Gambar said.

The head of the National Council of Democratic Forces Jamil Hasanli believes that Elchibey’s life is an example of the way of national morality.

Elchibey played an important role in the formation of national identity and ideology of independence.

PFPA leader Ali Kerimli noted that Elchibey and Rasulzade are two great personalities, whose birthdays and death dates are observed by the people without political will or administrative resources.

"The merits of these individuals no one can dispute. Abulfaz Elchibey even in the times of Communist totalitarianism laid the foundations of the ideology of national independence. Azerbaijani people under his leadership became independent. As the president of Azerbaijan, he proved how a popularly elected head of state serves the people without corruption," said Kerimli.

Next he quoted Elchibey: "We restored the independence of Azerbaijan and we will bring democracy here." This idea of Elchibey will be carried out by his followers, said Kerimli. - 03C -