Political Parties of Azerbaijan

Major Parties

Yeni (New) Azerbaijan Party
Azerbaijan Xalq Cabhasi (Popular Front)
Azerbaijan Milli Istiglal (National Independence) Party (AMIP)
Musavat (Equality) Party
Azerbaijan Liberal Party
Azerbaijan Democratic Party
Azerbaijan Demokratik Istiglal (Democratic Independence) Party (ADIP)
Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan (SDPA)
Yurddash (Compatriot) Party

Party Councils

1.Roundtable
2.Democratic Congress

Minor Parties


Ana Vatan (Motherland) Party (AVP)
National Statehood Party
Citizens' Solidarity (Vatandash Hamirali) Party
Alliance for Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan Communist Party
Ehrar (Freedom) Party
Umid (Hope)
Azerbaijan Xalq Demoktrat (People's Democratic) Party
United Azerbaijan Party
Demokratik Azerbaycan Dunyasi (Democratic Azerbaijan World)
Azerbaijan Independence Party
Azerbaijan Islamic Party
Milli Gurtulush (National Development) Party
Labour Party
Xalq Azadlyg (People's Liberty) Party
Azerbaijan Xalq Dircalis (People's Renaissance) Party
Vahdat Party
Azerbaijan Milli Tarragi (National Progress) Party
Azerbaijan Cagdas Turan (Modern Turan) Party
Azerbaijan National Movement Party
Azerbaijan Dircalis ve Tarragi (Renaissance and Progress) Party
Azerbaijan Green Party
Azerbaijan National Democratic Party (formerly named the Boz Gurd (Gray Wolf) Party)
Elin Sasi (People's Voice) Party
Azerbaijan Dunyavi (Secular) Party
Azerbaijan Hummet (Enlightenment) Party
Azerbaijan Kendli (Peasant) Party
Regional and ethnic minority party

Yeni (New) Azerbaijan Party

Chairman: Heydar Alirza oglu Aliev, President of Azerbaijan

Acting Chairman: Ali Nagiev, Minister of Social Protection

Newspaper: Yeni Azerbaijan, Ses, Nakhchivan

1995 Parliamentary elections: on the majority lists (N/A), on the proportional lists (19)

Yeni Azerbaijan has an absolute majority in the Milli Mejlis

Membership: claims 150,000

Contact: Agabey Askerov, head of foreign relations department, MP Tel: 98-33-98

Address: Uzeir Hacibekova 28

Telephone: 93-54-88, 93-42-76, 93-82-54

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Ruling party

Founded 1992. Ruling party, program highly focused on personality of Heydar Aliev as the guiding light of the Azeri nation.

Key members:

Ali Nagiev - acting chairman

Rafael Allahverdiev - deputy chairman, mayor of Baku

Ali Insanov - deputy chairman, minister of health

Murtuz Aleskerov - deputy chairman, speaker of Parliament

Deputy chairman Ziya Bunyatov, MP, was assassinated in 1996

Yeni Azerbaijan has applied for membership in the Socialist International, the Liberal International and the Democratic Union.

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Azerbaijan Xalq Cabhasi (Popular Front)

Chairman: Abulfaz Elchibey

First Deputy Chairman: Ali Kerimov, served as acting chairman from 1994-1997 during exile of Abulfaz Elchibey

Newspaper: Azadlyg and Cumhuriyet were the party's newspapers. In 1997 the Popular Front officially severed its ties with both newspapers.

1995 Parliamentary elections: on the proportional lists (3 MPs: Ali Kerimov, Mirmakhmud Fataev, Gulamhuseyn Aliev)

Membership: claims 80,000

Contact: Assim Mollazade, deputy chairman for foreign affairs

Address: 33 Khagani St.

Telephone: 98-07-94

The Popular Front was formed in 1989 to promote the politics of perestroika in Azerbaijan. In 1989, after leading mass meetings and strikes in response to the war in Nagorno-Karabagh, it was registered as a civic organization and became an umbrella group for a broad spectrum of individuals and groups opposed to the Communist regime. Although not officially a political party, the Front was allowed to field candidates in elections for the Supreme Soviet in October 1990, in which 25 of its members won seats. In early 1992, it led protests in Baku against President Ayaz Mutalibov that ultimately led to his resignation. Later in June, the Front ascended to the pinnacle of power, electing its Chairman, Abulfaz Elchibey, to the presidency of the republic in Azerbaijan's first independent elections.

The reign of the Popular Front was abruptly terminated in June 1993 when a bloodless coup forced Elchibey to flee Baku and relinquish the presidency to Heidar Aliev. Despite Aliev's victory in succeeding elections, the Front and Musavat to this day officially consider Elchibey to be the legitimate President of Azerbaijan.

In advance of the November 1995 parliamentary elections, the Popular Front voted amongst its members to register officially as a political party, naming to the post of Chairman deposed President Abulfaz Elchibey. Local and international support prevailed upon a resistant Ministry of Justice to register the new APF party, and the APF were registered in June 1995. In the November 1995 elections the APF seated three deputies in Parliament from its slate and one, Nizami Kuliev, from the majoritarian race in Gedabek district, making the APF the 2nd party in Parliament after the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan.

The APFP remains a large, loose organization that, despite representation in Parliament and prominence in the political sphere, seems more comparable to a movement than a disciplined, ideologically directed political party. Having engendered the national campaign for independence and democracy, the APDP continues to command support among opposition-minded voters as a moral alternative to the present government. Indeed, its leaders enjoy broad international recognition, and domestically it is acknowledged as the guiding force behind the DemCongress and the political party Roundtable. For these supporters, the fact that the Front occupied the presidency and governed the state adds muscle to its image and promotes confidence in its ability to rule. For another segment of the populace, however, the fact that the Front held power is precisely the reason for its repudiation. Attributing to it a record of internal disorder and territorial loss in Karabagh throughout 1992 and 1993, these voters resolutely place their support behind less proven opposition forces or pledge confidence in the present regime.

Since 1989 the mouthpiece of the Popular Front was the newspaper, Azadlyg, a publication that was as closely associated with the independence movement as the Front itself. The newspaper's young editors became less and less inclined, however, to produce a party organ and, despite much resistance from their former sponsors (the newspaper is now entirely self-financing), endeavored to reform the newspaper in accordance with market principles and international norms governing a professional and independent press. In 1997 the Front officially severed ties with both Azadlyg and Cumhuriyet.

Presently the Front consists of two wings: a nationalist group led by Elchibey and a liberal democrat group led by Ali Kerimov. At the most recent party congress the liberal democrat wing won the majority of votes and now has the controlling vote in all party organs. The party board or presidium, the liberals have a 90% majority, and in the general assembly their majority is 70%.

Key members:

Ali Amirhuseyn oglu Karimov, MP - first deputy chairman. State secretary April-June 1993.

Assim Nazim oglu Mollazade - deputy chairman for foreign affairs. From 1992-1993 served as ambassador to the Minsk Group of the OSCE and head of the foreign affairs department in the presidential apparat

Arif Faxraddin oglu Pashayev - deputy chairman under Elchibey for Karabagh issues. Arrested 1993 on charges of treason in loss of Lachin and Shusha; escaped from prison 1994; returned voluntarily to stand trial

Fazil Gezenfer oglu Mustafaev - deputy chairman for political affairs, former head of the administrative organs department in the Elchibey presidential apparat

Mirmakhmud Fataev, MP - deputy chairman for organizational issues

Jamil Hasanli - deputy for humanitarian affairs, former adviser to Elchibey for humanitarian affairs. History professor at Baku State University

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Azerbaijan Milli Istiglal (National Independence) Party (AMIP)

Chairman: Ehtibar Salidar oglu Mamedov, MP

Newspaper: Millat (Nation)

1995 Parliamentary elections: on the proportional ballot (3 MPs: Ehtibar Mamedov, Nazim Imanov and Shadman Huseynov)

Membership: claims 12,000

Contact: Magerram Zulfugarov

Address: 179 Azadlyg St.

Telephone: 62-75-76, 62-29-17

Loyal opposition

Founded September 1992. Favours market reforms and creation of national bourgeousie. A collective member of the Democratic Union. Considers that Azerbaijan currently needs economic reform under authoritarian government.

Nazim Imanov, MP, doctor of economic sciences

Shadman Huseynov, MP

As the Ana Vatan Party, the majority of AMIP's members are from Armenia.

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Musavat (Equality) Party

Chairman: Isa Gambar

Newspapers: Yeni Musavat(New Equality), Mukhallifat (Opposition) and 525

1995 Parliamentary elections: on the majority system (1 MP from Shamakhi district, Shirzad Eyyubov)

Membership: claims 15,000

Contact: Sulhettin Akperov, secretary for political and foreign affairs

Address: Prospect Azerbaijan

Telephone: 98-18-70, 98-31-63

Arif Hajiev, deputy chairman, chair of election commisssion, secretary for organizational issues

Musavat claims the legacy of the old Musavat Party that ruled Azerbaijan during its brief period of independence as the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic between 1918-1920. Following the victory of the Red Army and the incorporation of Azerbaijan into the USSR, Musavat operated underground and from exile in Turkey. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the majority of the Musavat leadership were members of the Popular Front. In 1992 Musavat was re-established as a political party in Azerbaijan and registered in 1993.

Since the advent of Heidar Aliev to power in 1993, Musavat resumed its identity in the forefront of the opposition movement in competition with the Popular Front. Musavat is commonly characterized as the party of the Azerbaijani intelligentsia, and the repository for many of the former ministers and diplomats of the Elchibey government. It lacks the membership, the parliamentary representation and the international profile of the Front, but arguably commands a more professional character and staff, an equally broad array of subsidiary and support organizations, and great loyalty among its supporters.

During the November 1995 elections, Musavat bore the brunt of the government's hostility toward the opposition. In September, Tofiq Gasimov, one of the party's leaders and the second entry on the Musavat party list, was arrested and charged with treason. In early October, the Central Election Commission disqualified the party from the process completely on the grounds that it failed to collect a sufficient number of valid signatures to qualify to run a list. During repeat elections the following February, the campaign headquarters of Isa Gambar in the industrial city of Sumgait were burglarized allegedly by government-sponsored forces. While Gambar himself lost his race, a regional Musavat member did manage to win election to the Milli Mejlis from another single-mandate district, Shamakhi.

Key members:

Isa Gambar - Chairman, speaker of Milli Majlis 1992-1993, faces trial charges for role in organizing resistance to June 1993 revolt of Surat Huseynov.

Vurgun Eyyub - General secretary

Sulhettin Akperov- deputy for political and foreign relations

Hikmet Hajizade - 1992-1993: Azerbaibajan ambassador in Moscow. Favours Russian mediation in Karabagh conflict.

Niyazi Mehdi - secretary for conceptual questions

Ibragim Ibragimli - secretary for humanitarian questions

Mehman Cavad oglu - press-secretary

Azerbaijan Liberal Party

Chairman: Lala Shovket, former secretary of state in Aliev's government, lost her position in 1994

Newspaper: Liberal

1995 Parliamentary elections: on the single-mandate ballot

Membership: claims 5,000

Contact: Tofiq Abbasov

Address: Prospect Azerbaijan

Telephone: 98-00-95, 93-49-14

Pro-Russia orientation

Before returning to Azerbaijan after the 1993 coup, Lala Shovket worked for the Russian Duma's health commission.

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Azerbaijan Democratic Party

Chairman: Ilyas Ismailov, a former Minister of Justice under Elchibey

Newspaper: Hurriyet (Freedom) and Demokratik Azerbaycan

1995 Parliamentary elections:

Membership:

Contact: Ilyas Ismailov

Address:

Telephone: 66-79-71, 66-40-59, 93-57-41 (work)

Excluded from the Democratic Congress in 1995, the party allied with the Adalet (Justice) Party in 1996.

Founded 1992. A co-founder of the Democratic Congress. Main principle - free person, free nation, free world.

After Rasul Guliev resigned from parliament in 1997, the Democratic Party represents his interests in Azerbaijan. Key members:

Sardar Jalal oglu Mamedov, general secretary

Qeyrat Quliev, press secretary

Qurban Mammedov, member of political committee. Arrested in 1998 and sentenced to 3 years' prison for slandering the Ministry of National Security.

Sardar Jalal oglu Mamedov will go on trial on September 15th, 1998 for slandering Interior Minister Ramil Usubov.

Azerbaijan Demokratik Istiglal (Democratic Independence) Party (ADIP)

Chairman: Vagif Kerimov

Newspaper: Vatandash, (Citizen)

1995 Parliamentary elections: on the proportional and single-mandate ballots; won two single-mandate seats

Membership: claim 10,000

Contact: Shohrat Mammedov

Address: Agah-Neymatulla St., 44

Telephone: 98-78-23, 66-56-12

ADIP 1 (Demokratik Istiglal) - opposition

ADIP 2 (Demokratik Istiglal) - pro-government

ADIP was formed in October 1993 as a result of a split within the Azerbaijan National Independence Party. Under its first chairman, former counselor to the president Gabil Husseynli, the party established a clear pro-government position which, despite changes in its leadership, it has maintained ever since. ADIP was founded as a political vehicle of Aliev's advisors, Qabil Husseynli, Eldar Namazov and Mubariz Qurbanli. ADIP supports the idea of a unitarian state of Azerbaijan and the rule of law. ADIP also supports the idea of a market economy and strong social policy for the interests of the broad mass of the population. ADIP has a presence in the Aghsu and Barda districts as well as in Baku.

As a result of the political events that led to the resignation of Rasul Guliev, the party forced a split in 1997. One group supports Rasul Guliev. This ADIP is now a member of the opposition DemCongress and is close to the Popular Front. Vagif Kerimov, a prominent businessman, became chairman of the opposition ADIP. He has been investigated for slandering a chief of a Baku regional police department (and brother of Yeni Azerbaijan acting chairman Ali Nagiev).

The second faction of ADIP moved closer to the government and Yeni Azerbaijan party. ADIP's sitting MPs, Mubariz Qurbanli and Velayat Guliev, sided with the pro-government faction. Eldar Namazov joined the New Azerbaijan Party and remains in the Presidential apparat, becoming chief of the President's secretariat.

Gabil Husseynli retired from politics and moved to Turkey.

Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan (SDPA)

Co-Chairman: Araz Alizadeh, in exile in Moscow

Co-Chairman: Zardusht Alizadeh

Deputy Chairman: Arzu Abdullayeva

Newspaper: Istiglal, (Independence)

1995 Parliamentary elections: on the proportional ballot

Membership: claims 1,300

Contact: Arzu Abdullayeva, Mubaris Ahmadoglu, Rena Agaeva

Address: 28 May St., 3

Telephone: 98-33-78, 93-81-48, 98-75-55, 93-33-97

The founding conference of the Social Democratic Party was held on December 10th, 1989 with most of the original members coming from the Popular Front. The party was the first non-Communist party to be officially registered (June 1990), before the adoption of the "On Political Parties." The SDPA stands for the building of a civic society in an independent and democratic Azerbaijan.

In the summer of 1990 the party joined the Democratic Bloc and participated in the parliamentary elections, electing party co-chairman Araz Alizadeh as a result. At the same time, the party's other co-chairman and Araz's brother Zardusht ran for president as the only alternative to the First Secretary of the Communist Party Ayaz Mutalibov. However Zardusht withdrew his candidacy in protest of the numerous violations of the election law.

Following the principles of national reconciliation, the SDPA joined the coalition, "Council of National Defense" (November 1991 - January 1992), and suggested that it mediate the conflict between the government and the opposition in August 1991 and May 1992. The SDPA is also a participant in the Azerbaijan National Committee of the Helsinki Citizen's Assembly (created in August 1992), which is headed by SDPA deputy chairman Arzu Abdullayeva. SDPA has a very close relationship with the Socialist International and holds the status of a "permanent guest" at the sessions of this organization. The party favours cultural autonomy of national minorities.

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Yurddash (Compatriot) Party

Chairman: Mais Safarli

Newspaper: Yurddash (infrequent)

1995 Parliamentary elections: in a bloc with the Popular Front

Membership:

Contact:

Address: Matbuat St., Azerbaijan Publishing House

Telephone: 32-10-47, 32-39-78

Opposition, close to Popular Front, member of Democratic Congress

This small party was formed in 1991 by current chairman Mais Safarli to advocate on behalf of Azerbaijanis left by the breakup of the Soviet Union on the territories of separate, sovereign states. It subscribes to a domestic agenda of nationalism, rule of law and democracy, but has established its reputation mainly on the basis of its international agenda, particularly its efforts to promote the interests of its compatriots in Russia, Iran and, formerly, Armenia.

Yurddash was one of the initiators of the idea of the DemCongress but joined the organization only several months after its inception. The party joined forces with the Popular Front during the November elections to nominate some of its members to candidacies in the single-mandate races but failed to win a seat. The party's chairman is currently the editor of The Baku Times, an irregularly published English-language newspaper in Baku.

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Party Councils

1. Roundtable

The idea for creation of such an organization belonged to the Union of Baku and Villages. The Roundtable was founded in January 1995 under the slogan, "Citizens for Unity". At the beginning there were 26 political parties, representing different political points of view (such as Musavat, APF, SDPA, Ana Vatan, Yeni Azerbaijan and ADIP). The meetings of the Roundtable were usually held at various party headquarters, with most meetings occurring at the Social Democrats' office. The Roundtable suspended its activity in early 1998.

The member parties have included:

  1. Ehrar (Liberty) Party
  2. Ana Vatan (Motherland)
  3. Baku and Villages Union (Baki ve Kendler Birliyi)- became Vahdat (Unity) Party, which in turn absorbed the Independent Democratic Party and a branch of the People's Liberty Party
  4. Citizen's Solidarity (Vatandash Hamirali) Party
  5. Compatriot (Yurddash) Party
  6. Democratic Conscious (Demokratik Tefekkur) Party
  7. Democratic Independence (Demokratik Istiglal) Party
  8. Independence (Istiglal) Party
  9. Musavat (Equality)
  10. National Democratic (Milli Demokratik) Party (formerly Grey Wolf (Boz Gurd) Party)
  11. National Equality (Milli Bereberlik) Party
  12. National Independence (Milli Istiglal) Party (observer)
  13. National Progress (Milli Tarragi) Party
  14. People's Democratic (Xalq Demokratik) Party
  15. Popular Front (Xalq Cabhasi) Party
  16. Right Way (Dogru Yol) Party (now merged w/ Musavat)
  17. Social Democratic (Sotsial Demokrat) Party
  18. Social Justice (Sotsial Adalat) Party
  19. Unification (Birlik) Party
  20. Work (Emek) Party
  21. Young Turan (Genc Turan) Party

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2. Democratic Congress
The Democratic Congress is the only political bloc in Azerbaijan. It was formed in 1994 by 6 parties: the Democratic, People's Liberty, Popular Front, Musavat, Chagdash Turan and Compatriot parties. In the 1995 parliamentary elections the Democratic Congress was unable to secure a voting bloc, and the Popular Front was the only DemCongress member to earn a seat in Parliament. The Democratic and People's Liberty parties left the Democratic Congress bloc in 1996. Since then 6 other parties have joined. Abulfaz Elchibey has been chairman of the Democratic Congress since 1997. In November 1998 Isa Gambar will succeed Elchibey for a similar one year term. The 10 Democratic Congress members are:

  1. Azadlyq (Liberty) Party
  2. Chakdash Turan (Modern Turan) Party
  3. Citizens' Solidarity (Vatandash Hamarali) Party
  4. Democratic Independence (Demokratik Istiglal) Party
  5. Musavat (Equality) Party
  6. Popular Front (Xalq Cabhasi) Party
  7. Compatriot (Yurddash) Party
  8. People's Democratic (Xalq Demokrat) Party
  9. Evolution (Tekemul) Party
  10. Ehrar (Liberty) Party

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Minor Parties

Ana Vatan (Motherland) Party (AVP)

Chairman: Fazail Rahim oglu Agamanli, former deputy minister for social protection under Elchibey and Aliev

Newspaper: Ana Vatan

1995 Parliamentary elections: on the proportional ballot

Membership: claims 10,000

Contact: Fazail Agamanli

Address: Mardanov Gardashlary St., 14

Telephone: 93-82-97, 93-85-39, 93-13-45, 93-55-82

Pro-government

AVP was established during the parliamentary elections in November 1990 and registered in August 1992. Since that time AVP has been a member of the Democratic Bloc. AVP supported the APF's policy and supported the armed coming to power of APF on the 15th of May 1992. Since June 1993, the AVP switched its allegiance toe Heydar Aliev and the Yeni Azerbaijan party. Currently, AVP is a member of the Emergency Consultative Council of political parties created by President Aliev. AVP is in a bloc with the centrist parties since the spring of 1994.

For peaceful N-K settlement with the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, early elections, early economic reforms, and eventual unity with southern Azerbaijan; opposes Russian restoration or Islamic fundamentalism. Opposes Social Democrats and Communists as too pro-Mutalibov. Participated in Roundtable but did not sign unity agreement, claiming it was too critical of the government. Many AVP members are from the same region of Armenia as Heydar Aliev.

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National Statehood Party

Chairman: Neymat Panahov

Newspaper: Meydan (Square)

1995 Parliamentary elections: on the proportional ballot

Membership:

Contact:

Address:

Telephone: 67-71-74, 67-70-54, 66-75-24

Formerly pro-government, now opposition.

Chairman Neymat Panahov participated in the June 1993 coup and then served as advisor to President Aliev. The National Statehood Party was founded in July 1994, and was second after Yeni Azerbaijan in allegiance to the President. The National Statehood Party was registered by the Ministry of Justice on October 13th, 1994. After being forced to resign before the 1995 parliamentary elections, Panahov moved the party into the opposition camp. During the 1995 parliamentary elections the party nominated 48 members as candidates on the majority lists, and 13 of them were certified as candidates by the CEC. In 1997 the party lost its registration.

Citizens' Solidarity (Vatandash Hamirali) Party

Chairman: Sabir Rustamkhanli, MP, writer, poet and leader of the national independence, minister of information under Elchibey and Aliev, resigned in November 1995 in order to take up his seat in Parliament.

Newspaper:

1995 Parliamentary elections: on the majority lists

Membership:

Contact:

Address: 4 H. Hajiev St.

Telephone: 93-56-83

Opposition party and member of Democratic Congress since 1998

Founded March 1992. Main idea is civil unification of Azerbaijani people. Balanced relations with Popular Front and Musavat. Chairman Rustamkhanli rejected a medal of honour awarded by President Aliev in 1998.

Alliance for Azerbaijan

Chairman: Abutalib Samedov

Newspaper:

1995 Parliamentary elections:

Membership: 13,000 claimed

Contact: Mazahir Efendiev

Address: Prospect Azizbeyov

Telephone: 32-54-53

Pro-government

The Alliance for Azerbaijan is a small pro-government party founded on November 17th, 1994, in Sumgait. Two members of the party collected signatures to become candidates on the majority ballot for the 1995 parliamentary elections, and chairman Samedov was certified as a candidate by the CEC.

Azerbaijan Communist Party

Chairman: Firuddun Hasanov

Newspaper: Azerbaijan Hagigaty (Azerbaijani Truth)

1995 Parliamentary elections:

Membership: 100,000 claimed

Contact:

Address:

Telephone:

Registered 1994. Party was founded in 1993

The Communist Party has broken into four factions; Hasanov's faction is pro-government and viewed as the only legitimate bloc by the government. Hasanov is a presidential candidate in the 1998 elections. The other 3 factions are led by Ramiz Ahmedov (pro-Russian and close to Zyuganov's party), Sayat Sayadov (self-proclaimed as faithful to Marxist-Leninist-Stalinist ideals), and Musa Tuganov (considers himself a part of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union).

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Ehrar (Freedom) Party

Chairman: Vagif M. Hadjibayli

Deputy Chairman: Ibragim Mammadli (Organization)

Deputy Chairman: Mustafa Mustafayev (Ideology)

Deputy Chairman: Yavuz Eyubov (Strategy)

Newspaper: Intibakh (Renaissance)

1995 Parliamentary elections:

Membership: claims 1,200

Contact: Ibragim Mammadli

Address: 24 Matbuat Ave.

Telephone:39-54-27; 75-51-63; 214-26-20

Opposition

Ten delegates represented the Ahrar party at the Parliament of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic between 1918-1920. After the April communist revolution in 1920, Ahrar came to a halt. In September 1994 Ahrar was re- established. Ahrar is a member of the Democratic Congress, Political Bloc and the Roundtable, consultative center of political parties. Propaganda of liberal values. The goal of the party is building the state based on the rule of law, democracy and civic society, where human rights to confess as the higher common to all mankind values. Vagif Hadjibayli was born in 1960. Educated as a lawyer, he is the founder and chief editor of Intibakh.

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Umid (Hope)

Chairman: Huseyn Artikoglu

Newspaper:

1995 Parliamentary elections: on the majority lists

Membership:

Contact: Abulfat Misir oglu Ahmadav, 38-57-35

Address:

Telephone: 31-77-97 (home)

Pro-government

Developed from Unity Society within the APF, which was critical of pro-Western orientation of Elchibey. Founded January 1990, registered 18/12/92. Remains critical of Elchibey, and now supports current regime. For military resolution of Karabagh war. Calls for coalition government with Revival party, SDP, Musavat, and Umid. Artikoglu is professor at Azerbaijan Technical University and unsuccessfully submitted candidacy in 1998 presidential elections.

Azerbaijan Xalq Demoktrat (People's Democratic) Party

Chairman: Rafig Turabkhan oglu Abdullayev

Newspaper:

1995 Parliamentary elections:

Membership: over 1,000

Contact:

Address: 73 Yusifbeyli St., Rm. 11

Telephone: 38-51-45, 98-31-44, 98-31-45

Founded in the political underground as the "Worker Party" in 1967. Registered in 1992. Nationalist, pan-Turkist party. Member of the Democratic Congress, close to Musavat.

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United Azerbaijan Party

Chairman:Hadjibaba Azimov, former MP

Newspaper:

1995 Parliamentary elections: on the majority lists

Membership:

Contact:

Address: Sabir Kazimov St., Lenkoran

Telephone:

Small regional party based in Lenkoran

Demokratik Azerbaycan Dunyasi (Democratic Azerbaijan World) Party

Chairman: Mammad Alizadeh

Newspaper: Dunya

1995 Parliamentary elections:

Membership:

Contact:

Address: 73 Saint Petersburg St. (home)

Telephone: 38-32-97 (home)

Developed ties with Ehtibar Mamedov's AMIP in 1998 presidential elections

Founded 1992.

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Azerbaijan Independence Party

Chairman: Nizami Suleimanov

Newspaper:

1995 Parliamentary elections: on the majority lists

Membership:

Contact:

Address: 1128 kecid, Baku

Telephone: 39-38-51, 39-46-02

Pro-government populist

Registered February 1993. Suleimanov ran for presidency in the June 1992 election. Opposed to the Popular Front. Known for connections with Mutalibov in Moscow.

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Azerbaijan Islamic Party

Chairman: Aliakram Ismail oglu Aliev, Nardaran Aliev

Newspaper:

1995 Parliamentary elections:

Membership:

Contact:

Address: 14 Askerov St.

Telephone: 93-72-61, 93-89-46, 93-54-65

Funded by Iran, supports Islamic state in Azerbaijan. Organ: "Islamin Sasi" (Voice of Islam). Struggle for social and economic independence of Azerbaijan through Islamic laws and principles. Propaganda of Islamic culture. Rejection of nationalism. The party stands for international human rights standards and also for peaceful co-existence of the representatives of all religions in the Republic.

The party was banned in 1996. All leaders were arrested and accused of espionage for Iran. Some members of the party are trying to restore their party through the Democratic Islam Party and closer ties with Musavat.

Milli Gurtulush (National Development) Party

Chairman: Mahammad Hatemi Tantekin

Newspaper:

1995 Parliamentary elections: on the majority lists

Membership:

Contact:

Address: 86 Nizami St.

Telephone: 98-60-45, 98-73-96

Close to Neymat Panahov's National Statehood Party.

Founded 1989. National-radical, Islamic. Goal of the party is unification of Northern and Southern Azerbaijan.

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Labour Party

Chairman: Sabutay Mamedov

Newspaper:

1995 Parliamentary elections:

Membership:

Contact:

Address:

Telephone:

Registered 05/17/1994. The party is now banned. The party is close to Ayaz Mutalibov, former President of Azerbaijan. Another key member is Rasim Agaev, former press secretary for Mutalibov. Agaev is in jail, and all other key members have been arrested for their association with Mutalibov. Sabutay Mamedov was arrested in 1995 and released from prison in September 1998.

Xalq Azadlyg (People's Liberty) Party

Chairman: Ganymad Zahidov, former chief editor of Azadlyg

Newspaper:

1995 Parliamentary elections:

Membership:

Contact:

Address: 22 Khagani St.

Telephone:

Allied with the Popular Front

Founding member of Democratic Congress, excluded from the bloc in 1996. Represents strongly anti-Iran and anti-Russian position.

Azerbaijan Xalq Dircalis (People's Renaissance) Party

Chairman: Azar Qasimzade

Newspaper:

1995 Parliamentary elections:

Membership:

Contact:

Address:

Telephone: 39-49-21

Pro-Moscow

Aims: Creation of national psychology, history, struggle for national liberation

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Vahdat Party

Chairman: Tahir Kerimli

Deputy Chairman: Hajji Jebrail Alizade

Deputy Chairman: Yunus Oghuz

Newspaper:

1995 Parliamentary elections:

Membership:

Contact:

Address:

Telephone: 94-89-37

Opposition, close to Musavat

Formed as the political arm of the Union of Baku and Villages. Originally supported APF, but parted ways after 1993. Initiated the Round Table of political parties in 1994.

In 1997 Vahdat merged with the Azerbaijan Independent Democratic Party of Leyla Yunusova and the half of the People's Liberty Party chaired by Yunus Oghuz. Leyla Yunusova was a member of the Popular Front and Defense Ministry spokesman in 1992-1993.

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Azerbaijan Milli Tarragi (National Progress) Party

Chairman:

Newspaper:

1995 Parliamentary elections:

Membership:

Contact:

Address: Room 209, Government House

Telephone: 93-27-27

Registered in 1992

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Azerbaijan Cagdas Turan (Modern Turan) Party

Chairman: Arif Islam oglu Tagiev

Newspaper:

1995 Parliamentary elections:

Membership: @ 100

Contact:

Address:

Telephone: 73-16-79

Member of Democratic Congress

Turkish nationalist orientation.

Gorgud Party

Chairman: Firuddin Kerimov

Newspaper:

1995 Parliamentary elections: on the majority lists

Membership:

Contact:

Address: no headquarters

Telephone: 96-03-11 (home)

Created 1992.

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Pro-government party

Azerbaijan National Movement Party

Chairman: Samir Jafarov

Newspaper:

1995 Parliamentary elections:

Membership:

Contact:

Address: no headquarters

Telephone: 38-56-96 (home)

Registered in 1992

Milli Demokratik Idrak (National Democratic Will) Party

Chairman: Osman Efendiev

Newspaper:

1995 Parliamentary elections:

Membership: claims 1,000

Contact:

Address: 68 Tagizadeh St.

Telephone: 31-50-31

Founded in 1992

Azerbaijan Dircalis ve Tarragi (Renaissance and Progress) Party

Chairman: Azad Nabiev

Newspaper:

1995 Parliamentary elections:

Membership:

Contact:

Address: 1 Nakhchivan St., Apt. 23

Telephone: 38-73-90, 62-17-58

The party is considered to be a successor of "Ittiha ve tereggi" Party founded in 1918. Founded April 1992.

Aims: creation of independent, law-based, multi-party democracy.

Azerbaijan Green Party

Former chairman: Arif Mansurov, minister of ecology under Elchibey and Aliev until his arrest in 1996

Chairman: Bahar Hadji-zadeh

Newspaper:

1995 Parliamentary elections:

Membership:

Contact:

Address: 31 Istiglaliyat St.

Telephone: 92-61-19

Party no longer active after chairman imprisoned.

Former chairman Arif Mansurov is former Minister of Ecology. He resigned as chairman when he was arrested and imprisoned for hiding Rahim Gaziev in a nature reserve. Mansurov has been released for health reasons and is no longer politically active

Azerbaijan National Democratic Party (formerly named the Boz Gurd (Gray Wolf) Party)

Chairman: Iskender Hamidov, former interior minister under Elchibey

Newspaper:

1995 Parliamentary elections:

Membership:

Contact:

Address:

Telephone: 94-89-37

Fiery nationalist rhetoric favoring military solution to Karabagh conflict. The party was banned after the events of March 1995. Iskandar Hamidov, head of this party was arrested.

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Elin Sasi (People's Voice) Party

Chairman: Haji Xanahmad oglu Novruzov

Newspaper:

1995 Parliamentary elections:

Membership:

Contact:

Address: no headquarters

Telephone: 96-69-84 (home)

Founded in 1992, close to Islamic party.

Azerbaijan Dunyavi (Secular) Party

Chairman: Sakir Maharram oglu Guliev

Newspaper:

1995 Parliamentary elections:

Membership:

Contact:

Address: no headquarters

Telephone: 93-05-98 (home), 93-40-90

Founded in October 1992. The party stands for creating a secular state in Azerbaijan similar to Turkey. The party would like to see an independent and democratic state in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan Hummet (Enlightenment) Party

Chairman: Kuzasaf Zaman oglu Amirov

Newspaper:

1995 Parliamentary elections:

Membership:

Contact:

Address: Rm. 117, Government House

Telephone: 93-53-09, 93-49-67

Centrist bloc member and pro-government. Founded in 1992.

Azerbaijan Kendli (Peasant) Party

Chairman: Imam Mustafaev

Newspaper:

1995 Parliamentary elections:

Membership:

Contact:

Address: no headquarters

Telephone: 96-43-30 (home), 91-11-95

Founded September 1993. Struggle for agrarian reforms, creation of normal living conditions for peasants. The party participated in preparing an agrarian reform law.

Imam Mustafaev died and the party collapsed.

Azerbaijan Republican Party

Chairman: Fargan Qanbar oglu Aliev

Newspaper: Respublicachi

1995 Parliamentary elections:

Membership: 1,000

Contact:

Address: 161 Azadlyg St.

Telephone: 61-98-19

Aims: Economic and social independence. Fundamental reforms of education and public health system. Registered November 1992.

Azerbaijan National Equality Party

Chairman: Faxriddin Aydayev

Newspaper:

1995 Parliamentary elections:

Membership:

Contact:

Address:

Telephone: 60-05-21

Regional and ethnic minority party

Founded in 1993 as the Lezghi Democratic Party, but compelled by authorities to change its name. Main strength in Lezghi-populated areas (Xacmaz, Qusar, Shamakhi, Qabala. Advocates free economic zone on both sides of Daghestan border, cultural rights for lezghis. Now trying to gain non-Lezghi support.

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