Allahverdi Bagirov
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Allahverdi Teymur oghlu Baghirov (; April 22, 1946 – June 14, 1992) was an
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern Europe. It is a part of the South Caucasus region and is bounded by ...
i
officer An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," fro ...
, former leader of the
Azerbaijani Popular Front Party The Azerbaijani Popular Front Party (APFP; , ) is a political party in Azerbaijan, founded in 1989 by Abulfaz Elchibey. Since Elchibey was ousted from power in the 1993 military coup, the party has been one of the main opposition parties to th ...
of Agdam, head coach of
Qarabağ FK Qarabağ Futbol Klubu () is an Azerbaijani professional football club that competes in the Azerbaijan Premier League, the top flight of Azerbaijani football. The club originates from Aghdam in the Karabakh ( Azerbaijani: ''Qarabağ'') region, ...
and
National Hero of Azerbaijan The National Hero of Azerbaijan () is the highest national title in the Republic of Azerbaijan. The title was named on 25 March 1992, and the "Qizil Ulduz" Medal awarded as a sign of receiving this title was established by a separate law on 15 J ...
.


Early years

Seven daughters were born before his birth in his family, and his parents gave a name to him "Allahverdi" (meaning "God given"). Allahverdi Baghirov was born in
Aghdam Aghdam () is a town and the nominal capital of the Aghdam District of Azerbaijan. Founded in the 18th century, it was granted city status in 1828 and grew considerably during the Soviet period. Aghdam lies from Stepanakert at the eastern foot ...
and finished Aghdam school city number one in 1965. After graduating from school, he started working at Qarabagh FK as a head coach.


Football career

Since childhood Allahverdi was fond of football, athletics and volleyball. He had an important role in victory of Aghdam in various sports interregional competitions during school years and later. He played for Aghdam "Karabakh" (then the team was called "Mehsul"), where he played as a striker under number "5". Allahverdi Baghirov's brother Eldar Baghirov (1951–1991) also played for Qarabagh FK and was a defender. In 1970, Allahverdi Baghirov was captain of Aghdam - Jabrayil match for the "Golden Spike" Cup in Fuzuli. From 1966 to 1983 Baghirov was the coach of the Agdam Children and Youth Sports School and worked for the "Qarabagh" football club. In 1976, he was appointed the head coach of the club and Azerbaijan took the fourth place with his help in the same year, on the World Unity Championship. In 1991 he took part in match between professional footballers of Qarabagh FK and "Neftchi". The match ended with a score of 1:1, The goal scored in the game belonged to Allahverdi. Former football player Mushfig Huseynov recalled Allahverdi Baghirov:
''My first coach was the late National Hero Allahverdi Baghirov. Allahverdi muallim eachertaught us more about being honest than about football. He did a great job of preparing us for independent life. He really was a good example for the players.''
According to Zahid Garayev, a former Karabakh player and later Baghirov's comrade-in-arms, Allahverdi was both a very strict and very caring coach. Before every match Baghirov told the players: "Let's play in the morning and win!". He took care of his players, made sure they got everything they needed (food, water, etc.) on time. During away games, Baghirov would check each player's room before going to bed, making sure they were in place and everything was in order. But if any player was late for practice in the morning, Baghirov, according to Garaev, would punish the player and not allow him


Military service

In 1988, he voluntarily enlisted in the Azerbaijani Army in the war against Armenia over
Nagorno-Karabakh Nagorno-Karabakh (, ; ) is a region in Azerbaijan, covering the southeastern stretch of the Lesser Caucasus mountain range. Part of the greater region of Karabakh, it spans the area between Lower Karabakh and Syunik Province, Syunik. Its ter ...
region. In 1990, Baghirov created his own battalion and rescued many Azerbaijani citizens from Khojaly, while exchanging dead bodies of Azerbaijani soldiers with Armenian soldiers.


Participation in Karabakh War

Baghirov supported small self-defense groups formed in the villages of
Karabakh Karabakh ( ; ) is a geographic region in southwestern Azerbaijan and eastern Armenia, extending from the highlands of the Lesser Caucasus down to the lowlands between the rivers Kura and Aras. It is divided into three regions: Highland Kara ...
with financial assistance provided by the people of
Aghdam Aghdam () is a town and the nominal capital of the Aghdam District of Azerbaijan. Founded in the 18th century, it was granted city status in 1828 and grew considerably during the Soviet period. Aghdam lies from Stepanakert at the eastern foot ...
and his own money. He fought in all battles of the Aghdam region. During the war, he was elected chairman of the Popular Front of Agdam. The flag of Independent Azerbaijan for the first time was raised by Allahverdi Baghirov in
Aghdam Aghdam () is a town and the nominal capital of the Aghdam District of Azerbaijan. Founded in the 18th century, it was granted city status in 1828 and grew considerably during the Soviet period. Aghdam lies from Stepanakert at the eastern foot ...
. In 1988, when an outpost was created between Askeran and Aghdam without authorization of the government, his brother Eldar Baghirov was first volunteer who went there when outposts were created in all villages bordering with
Armenians Armenians (, ) are an ethnic group indigenous to the Armenian highlands of West Asia.Robert Hewsen, Hewsen, Robert H. "The Geography of Armenia" in ''The Armenian People From Ancient to Modern Times Volume I: The Dynastic Periods: From Antiq ...
. In August 1991, Allahverdi was shot in the leg by his childhood associate and childhood friend Jafar Imamaliyev as a result of the conflict, when Baghirov sided with
Rahim Gaziyev Rahim Hasan oghlu Gaziyev (; born 1943) was Azerbaijani Defense Minister in 1992–1993, in the turmoil of the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, and later a political prisoner. Prior to the war Gaziyev graduated from the Azerbaijan Architecture and C ...
, the future minister of defense republic. On October 1, 1991, under the command of Allahverdi Baghirov and his brother Eldar Baghirov, military units of the National Army of Azerbaijan were formed in Agdam. Eldar Baghirov was appointed commander of the Agdam Territorial Self-Defense Battalion No. 845. The battalion of 760 men was called "Sons of the Fatherland." Eldar Baghirov, a member of the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan who signed the ''Act on the State Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan'' in the same year, was mysteriously killed in front of his sister's house in the 4th district of Baku when he was returning from a meeting of the Supreme Council. After Eldar Baghirov's death, the battalion was given his name, and the battalion commander became Allahverdi Baghırov. Also after the death of Eldar, Allahverdi Baghirov stopped shaving beard. During the war Baghirov had the nickname Goja Gartal ( azerb. Qoca Qartal—Old Eagle). In January 1992, all the forces and techniques of the Armenians in Naxchivanli village was destroyed by Azerbaijani military units under the command of Allahverdi Baghirov, then progressed to the Askeran fortress with 150 warriors, created the opposite position with the village of Ketuk. It took just two hours for Allahverdi Baghirov's soldiers to complete the operation and replace Armenian flags with Azerbaijani flags. Allahverdi Baghirov was awarded the title of "General Mohammed Asadov" for this operation.


Participation in saving Khojaly captives

During the
Khojaly massacre The Khojaly massacre (, ) was the mass killing of Azerbaijani civilians by Armenian forces and the 366th CIS regiment in the town of Khojaly on 26 February 1992. The event became the largest single massacre throughout the entire Nagorno-Ka ...
, the battalion of Allahverdi Baghirov near
Askeran Askeran ( or , ; ) is a town in the Khojaly District of Azerbaijan, in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Until 2023 it was controlled by the breakaway Republic of Artsakh, as the centre of its Askeran Province. The town had an ethnic Armenian-m ...
managed to save hundreds of residents of the city. Baghirov made a great contribution to the removal of the bodies of those killed during the Khojaly massacre from the battlefield and the release of Azerbaijani prisoners in exchange for the bodies and captives of Armenian soldiers. Allahverdi Baghirov, through
Vitaly Balasanyan Vitaly Mikhaili Balasanyan (, born 5 March 1959) is an Artsakhi politician and retired general. He served as the head of the National Security Council of the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh from November 2016 to November 2019 and again from D ...
, commander of the Armenian battalion in Askeran, saved more than 1003 residents of Khojaly from captivity in three days. According to Balasanyan, he handed over 1250 people to the Azerbaijanis. Baghirov received Azerbaijani prisoners at Garagadjy cemetery in Agdam district, brought them by bus and handed them over to their family. It was as a result of Allahverdi Baghirov's talks with Vitaly Balasanyan that military operators Seyidagha Movsumov and Chingiz Mustafayev had the opportunity to film from the site of the Khojaly massacre. Thus, according to the then TV cameraman of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry, Seyidagha Movsumov, he and the commander of the Agdam battalion, Allahverdi Baghirov, went to the checkpoint on the Askeran road. After negotiations with his opponent, Baghirov met with Balasanyan. It was Allahverdi Baghirov's first meeting with Vitaly Balasanyan on February 28 of 1992, two days after the Khojaly massacre. Baghirov told Balasanyan that his fighters wanted to collect the bodies and carry out video footage. At first Balasanyan did not agree to the shooting, but then Baghirov managed to persuade the Armenian commander; provided that the two Armenian soldiers will follow the Azerbaijanis to the end and no filming will be carried out without their permission. Baghirov agreed, after which Movsumov and several people of Baghirov got into the cars of the Armenian military and together with two trucks drove towards Khojaly. On that day, the fighters of Baghırov battalion were also able to carry the body of the commandant of Khojali airport, Alif Hajiyev. Also that day, at 10 p.m., the first group of Khojali Azerbaijanis, mostly women and children, was sent to Agdam. Later Balasanyan recalled Baghirov:
''Our acquaintance and communication, definitely, have benefited me and him. In those days we solved hundreds of issues. With the help of Allahverdi, we were able to bring back the people who, for one reason or another, found themselves in enemy territory. I managed to get a lot of people out of their prisons. Allahverdi was a very responsible man: there was no case that I called him on any issue, and this issue would not have been resolved. It happened that our wounded guys were on their side, and the radio player reported it to me. I contacted Allahverdi, and we immediately returned the wounded. He didn't allow it to come down to the murder of our people''''.''
Military correspondent Emin Eminbeyli said that one day during the exchange of prisoners Baghirov suddenly hugged one of the Armenian captives and said directly to the camera that for many years he played football with him for the same team. The Armenian soldier replied to Baghirov that he was very hopeful that he would no longer be with him on opposite sides.


Death

On May 3, 1992, Baghirov was able to obtain information that Armenian forces were going to capture Shusha on the 8th. After passing this information to the state authorities, Allahverdi Baghirov summoned five soldiers to the headquarters and together with them began to develop a plan of action. On June 12, 1992, Baghirov's battalion took part in the capture of the villages of Aranzamin,
Nakhichevanik Nakhichevanik () or Nakhchivanly () is a village located in the Khojaly District of Azerbaijan, in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Until 2023 it was controlled by the breakaway Republic of Artsakh. The village had an ethnic Armenian-majority pop ...
, Dagraz, Mirikend, Pirjamal. He believed that he would be able to reach Khankendi with his battalion. However, on his return from
Nakhichevanik Nakhichevanik () or Nakhchivanly () is a village located in the Khojaly District of Azerbaijan, in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Until 2023 it was controlled by the breakaway Republic of Artsakh. The village had an ethnic Armenian-majority pop ...
after checking the post, the UAS vehicle in which Allahverdi was staying was blown up by an
anti-tank mine An anti-tank or AT mine is a type of land mine designed to damage or destroy vehicles including tanks and armored fighting vehicles. Compared to anti-personnel mines, anti-tank mines typically have a much larger explosive charge, and a fuze desi ...
at the entrance of the village of Aranzamin; three survived, but him and the driver died. Upon learning of Baghirov's death, the commander of the Askeran battalion, Vitaly Balasanyan, contacted the Azerbaijani military on the radio and asked if Allahverdi had really died. When he heard that this was true, Balasanyan was very upset and scolded the Azerbaijanis: "How did you not save such a person?" By decree No. 476 of February 24, 1993 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan,
Abulfaz Elchibey Abulfaz Gadirgulu oghlu Aliyev (24 June 1938 – 22 August 2000), commonly known as Abulfaz Elchibey, was a Pan-Turkist Azerbaijani nationalist, politician and Soviet dissident who was the first and only democratically elected President in pos ...
, Allahverdi Teymur ogly Baghirov, the commander of the military unit named Eldar Baghirov was posthumously awarded the title of
National Hero of Azerbaijan The National Hero of Azerbaijan () is the highest national title in the Republic of Azerbaijan. The title was named on 25 March 1992, and the "Qizil Ulduz" Medal awarded as a sign of receiving this title was established by a separate law on 15 J ...
for his personal courage and courage, shown during the protection of the territorial integrity of the
Republic of Azerbaijan Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern Europe. It is a part of the South Caucasus region and is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russi ...
and the security of the civilian population. The National Hero's Gold Star Medal was presented to Baghirov's wife by Azerbaijani President
Heydar Aliyev Heydar Alirza oghlu Aliyev (10 May 1923 – 12 December 2003) was an Azerbaijani politician who was a Soviet party boss in the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic from 1969 to 1982, and the third president of Azerbaijan from October 1993 to ...
.


Funeral and grave

Baghirov was buried in his native Aghdam city, in the city's cemetery. At that time, most of those killed in Karabakh were buried in the Alley of Martyrs in Baku. Immediately after Baghirov's death, a grave was even prepared for him in Alley of Martyrs in Baku, but for certain reasons his family decided to bury Allahverdi next to his brother, Eldar Baghirov, in Aghdam cemetery. And in that same grave in Baku was buried journalist Chingiz Mustafayev, who died a few days after Baghirov. After the capture of the city by Armenian forces, the cemetery was destroyed. On November 20, Azerbaijani armed forces, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement signed by the heads of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia, which ended the
Second Nagorno-Karabakh War The Second Nagorno-Karabakh War was an armed conflict in 2020 that took place in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Armenian-occupied territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh, surrounding occupied territories. It was a major esca ...
, entered the territory of the Agdam district, and the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev announced on live television about the full transition of the area and city of Agdam under the control of the Azerbaijani army. On November 27 the daughters of Allahverdi Baghirov, officers Zumrud Baghirova and Aynur Baghirova, visited their father's grave after 27 years. The grave of the National Hero was beautified Baghirov Allahverdi Teymur oghlu was awarded the title of "National Hero of Azerbaijan" after his death by the decree of the Azerbaijani President dated February 24, 1993. Later, by the decree of
Heydar Aliyev Heydar Alirza oghlu Aliyev (10 May 1923 – 12 December 2003) was an Azerbaijani politician who was a Soviet party boss in the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic from 1969 to 1982, and the third president of Azerbaijan from October 1993 to ...
, Allahverdi Baghirov was awarded with “the Golden Star” medal.


Personal life

* First wife - Russian (born in Aghdam; divorced) ** Son - Elshan Baghirov (born 1972, Agdam) * Second wife - Valida Baghirova; ** Daughter - Zumrud Baghirova, Colonel-Lieutenant of the State Border Guard Service of Azerbaijan; *** Grandson - Ali Alizadeh. ** Daughter - Aynur Baghirova, captain of medical service of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan. *** Grandson - Burkhan Pashazadeh.


See also

*
Qarabağ FK Qarabağ Futbol Klubu () is an Azerbaijani professional football club that competes in the Azerbaijan Premier League, the top flight of Azerbaijani football. The club originates from Aghdam in the Karabakh ( Azerbaijani: ''Qarabağ'') region, ...
*
First Nagorno-Karabakh War The First Nagorno-Karabakh War was an ethnic conflict, ethnic and territorial conflict that took place from February 1988 to May 1994, in the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in southwestern Azerbaijan, between the majority ethnic Armenians of Nag ...


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baghirov, Allahverdi 1946 births 1992 deaths People from Aghdam Azerbaijani military personnel of the Nagorno-Karabakh War Azerbaijani military personnel killed in action National Heroes of Azerbaijan Azerbaijani football managers Qarabağ FK managers Sportspeople from Agdam Footballers from Agdam Men's association football forwards Azerbaijani men's footballers Soviet men's footballers Soviet football managers 20th-century Azerbaijani sportsmen