Elmira Gafarova
Encyclopedia
Elmira Mikayil qizi Gafarova ( (March 1, 1934 - August 1, 1993), also spelled as Elmira Qafarova was an Azerbaijan
i politician
and diplomat
.
, Azerbaijan
. In 1952, she completed her secondary education and was admitted to Azerbaijan State University in 1953. In 1958, she graduated from the university with a degree in Philology
and continued with her post graduate studies
until 1961 when she obtained her PhD in Philology. While at university, Gafarova was the deputy of the Komsomol
committee of the university. In 1958, she was admitted to Azerbaijan Communist Party
. In 1962, she was appointed the chairwoman of the Organization Committee Center of Azerbaijani Komsomol and in 1966 through 1970, she served as the first secretary of the organization.
.
In 1980 she was appointed to the post of Minister of Education of Azerbaijan SSR
which she held until 1983. In 1983-1987, Gafarova served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan SSR. While in foreign service, she participated in UN General Assembly sessions in October 1984 on issues of racism and discrimination. She was also elected to the Supreme Soviet
of Azerbaijan. From 1987 through 1991, she was the Speaker of Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan SSR and was elected deputy to the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. In 1987-89, she also served as Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan SSR. When she was the speaker of the parliament, Gafarova played a significant role in restoring the historic name of Ganja
on December 30, 1989 and made the Novruz holiday celebrated throughout Azerbaijan an official public holiday on March 13, 1990. She is also creditted with passing a law on restoration of independence of Azerbaijan on October 18, 1991, admission of Azerbaijan Republic to United Nations on March 2, 1992, etc.
on the night of January 19–20, 1990. The session of 160 deputies issued a statement of condemnation of the massacre and appealed to Supreme Soviet of USSR, Supreme Soviets of union republics, all parliaments of the world and United Nations
mentioning military aggression against civilians in disregard of Geneva
and Vienna Convention
s. As a result, Azerbaijani General Prosecutor’s Office launched a criminal investigation on paragraphs 4 and 6 of article 94 (premeditated murder in aggravating circumstances), 149 (deliberately destroying or damaging the property), 168 (abuse of power) and 225 (abuse of authority) of the Criminal Code that was effective at that time. The ongoing investigation has not yet been closed.
and Order of Honor during her career.
Elmira Gafarova died on August 1, 1993 in Baku, Azerbaijan. She was buried in Honorary Lane
.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
i politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
.
Early life
Gafarova was born on March 1, 1934 in BakuBaku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
, Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
. In 1952, she completed her secondary education and was admitted to Azerbaijan State University in 1953. In 1958, she graduated from the university with a degree in Philology
Philology
Philology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.Classical philology is the philology of Greek and Classical Latin...
and continued with her post graduate studies
Postgraduate education
Postgraduate education involves learning and studying for degrees or other qualifications for which a first or Bachelor's degree generally is required, and is normally considered to be part of higher education...
until 1961 when she obtained her PhD in Philology. While at university, Gafarova was the deputy of the Komsomol
Komsomol
The Communist Union of Youth , usually known as Komsomol , was the youth division of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. The Komsomol in its earliest form was established in urban centers in 1918. During the early years, it was a Russian organization, known as the Russian Communist Union of...
committee of the university. In 1958, she was admitted to Azerbaijan Communist Party
Azerbaijan Communist Party
The Azerbaijan Communist Party was the ruling political party in the Azerbaijan SSR, making it effectively a branch of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union...
. In 1962, she was appointed the chairwoman of the Organization Committee Center of Azerbaijani Komsomol and in 1966 through 1970, she served as the first secretary of the organization.
Political career
In 1970-1971, Gafarova worked as the director of Department of Culture of Central Committee of Azerbaijan Communist Party and in 1971 until 1980, she was the First Secretary of the Party Committee of BakuBaku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
.
In 1980 she was appointed to the post of Minister of Education of Azerbaijan SSR
Azerbaijan SSR
The Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Azerbaijan SSR for short, was one of the republics that made up the former Soviet Union....
which she held until 1983. In 1983-1987, Gafarova served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan SSR. While in foreign service, she participated in UN General Assembly sessions in October 1984 on issues of racism and discrimination. She was also elected to the Supreme Soviet
Supreme Soviet
The Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union was the Supreme Soviet in the Soviet Union and the only one with the power to pass constitutional amendments...
of Azerbaijan. From 1987 through 1991, she was the Speaker of Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan SSR and was elected deputy to the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. In 1987-89, she also served as Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan SSR. When she was the speaker of the parliament, Gafarova played a significant role in restoring the historic name of Ganja
Ganja, Azerbaijan
Ganja is Azerbaijan's second-largest city with a population of around 313,300. It was named Yelizavetpol in the Russian Empire period. The city regained its original name—Ganja—from 1920–1935 during the first part of its incorporation into the Soviet Union. However, its name was changed again and...
on December 30, 1989 and made the Novruz holiday celebrated throughout Azerbaijan an official public holiday on March 13, 1990. She is also creditted with passing a law on restoration of independence of Azerbaijan on October 18, 1991, admission of Azerbaijan Republic to United Nations on March 2, 1992, etc.
Black January
Gafarova has been of the first leaders to convene the extraordinary session of the Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet on January 21–22 and condemn the Soviet authorities for massacre of civilians in BakuBlack January
Black January , also known as Black Saturday or the January Massacre, was a violent crackdown of the Azerbaijani independence movement in Baku on January 19–20, 1990, pursuant to a state of emergency during the dissolution of the Soviet Union....
on the night of January 19–20, 1990. The session of 160 deputies issued a statement of condemnation of the massacre and appealed to Supreme Soviet of USSR, Supreme Soviets of union republics, all parliaments of the world and United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
mentioning military aggression against civilians in disregard of Geneva
Geneva Conventions
The Geneva Conventions comprise four treaties, and three additional protocols, that establish the standards of international law for the humanitarian treatment of the victims of war...
and Vienna Convention
Vienna Convention
Vienna Convention can mean any of a number of treaties signed in Vienna. Notable are:* several treaties and conventions resulted from the Congress of Vienna which redrew the map of Europe, only partially restoring the pre-Napoleonic situation, and drafted new rules for international relations*...
s. As a result, Azerbaijani General Prosecutor’s Office launched a criminal investigation on paragraphs 4 and 6 of article 94 (premeditated murder in aggravating circumstances), 149 (deliberately destroying or damaging the property), 168 (abuse of power) and 225 (abuse of authority) of the Criminal Code that was effective at that time. The ongoing investigation has not yet been closed.
Awards
Gafarova has been awarded with various orders and medals of USSR. She's been awarded with Order of the Red Banner of LabourOrder of the Red Banner of Labour
The Order of the Red Banner of Labour was an order of the Soviet Union for accomplishments in labour and civil service. It is the labour counterpart of the military Order of the Red Banner. A few institutions and factories, being the pride of Soviet Union, also received the order.-History:The Red...
and Order of Honor during her career.
Elmira Gafarova died on August 1, 1993 in Baku, Azerbaijan. She was buried in Honorary Lane
Fakhri Khiyaban
The Alley of Honor is a public cemetery and memorial in Baku, Azerbaijan. The Alley includes burials of famed Azerbaijanis and Azerbaijan-affiliated expatriates, including several Presidents, scientists and artists...
.