Heydar Aliyev Returns to Power as Parliament Speaker and Acting President
Former Soviet leader takes control of Azerbaijan, promising to restore order and reverse military defeats
BAKU, Azerbaijan - Heydar Aliyev, the 70-year-old former Communist Party boss who ruled Azerbaijan for nearly two decades during the Soviet era, officially returned to power today as parliament elected him speaker and acting president, marking a dramatic restoration for the wily political survivor.
Aliyev flew from Nakhchivan to a capital desperate for experienced leadership after Elchibey’s flight and Huseynov’s military rebellion. Parliament voted overwhelmingly to grant him emergency powers to restore order and negotiate an end to the catastrophic war.
“Azerbaijan faces mortal danger requiring experienced leadership,” Aliyev declared in his gruff, commanding style. “I’ve returned not for power but to save our nation from complete destruction. Personal ambitions are luxury we cannot afford.”
The scene marked extraordinary reversal - the Communist leader ousted by the Popular Front in 1990 now returns as savior while democratic forces lie discredited and scattered.
Master Politician Returns
Aliyev’s arrival demonstrated his enduring political mastery. He negotiated with all factions, promising Huseynov the prime ministership while assuring others the warlord would be contained. Moscow received signals of renewed cooperation while Turkey heard commitments to continued partnership.
“In two days, he’s shown more leadership than Elchibey managed in a year,” admitted former Popular Front deputy Musavat Agayev. “We may not like him, but we need him.”
The former KGB general and Politburo member brings unmatched experience in managing crisis. His Soviet-era networks remain intact, offering channels to Moscow, regional leaders, and security services.
Immediate Priorities
Aliyev outlined immediate priorities: stabilizing the military situation, preventing state collapse, and beginning realistic negotiations over Nagorno-Karabakh. His pragmatism contrasts sharply with Elchibey’s ideological approach.
“We must face facts, however bitter,” he stated. “Azerbaijan has lost territories and battles. We need ceasefire to prevent losing everything.”
The acknowledgment of defeat, unthinkable under Elchibey, signals new realism. Aliyev understands negotiating from weakness requires different strategies than democratic dreams.
Taming Huseynov
The delicate relationship with Suret Huseynov preoccupies observers. The rebel colonel commands significant military force and expects rewards for toppling Elchibey. Aliyev must balance appeasing and controlling him.
“Aliyev didn’t survive Soviet politics without understanding dangerous allies,” notes analyst Rasim Agayev. “He’ll use Huseynov until he doesn’t need him.”
Initial signs suggest classic Aliyev tactics - public praise while quietly building alternative power centers. The colonel receives honors while his forces face integration into regular military structures.
Moscow Connection
Aliyev’s return delights Moscow, which sees opportunity to restore influence lost during Elchibey’s pro-Western tenure. The former Soviet leader speaks Russian perfectly and understands Kremlin psychology.
“He’s someone we can work with,” comments Russian diplomat privately. “Realistic about Azerbaijan’s limitations and our interests.”
However, Aliyev proves too experienced for simple subordination. He seeks Russian support while maintaining Azerbaijan’s independence - difficult balance requiring constant maneuvering.
Popular Relief
Despite his authoritarian past, many Azerbaijanis welcome Aliyev’s return. After years of chaos, his promise of stability resonates even among former opponents.
“My son is at the front, my house is full of refugees, and money is worthless,” says Baku teacher Sevda Mammadova. “Democracy is nice, but we need someone who can stop this nightmare.”
The exhausted population accepts trading freedom for order. Survival trumps political ideals when state existence is threatened.
International Recalibration
Western nations adjust to new reality. The democratic president they supported has fled, replaced by Soviet-era strongman. Pragmatism requires working with whoever controls Baku.
“We engage with effective leadership, not ideal leadership,” states U.S. diplomat carefully. “If Aliyev can stabilize Azerbaijan and negotiate peace, we’ll work with him.”
Turkey faces particular challenges, having strongly backed Elchibey. Ankara must rebuild relations with leader who remembers Turkish abandonment during crisis.
War Realities
Armenian forces continue advancing while Azerbaijan undergoes political transition. The fall of Agdam appears imminent. Each day of instability means more territorial losses.
“Aliyev faces impossible situation,” observes military expert Pavel Baev. “The war is essentially lost. His challenge is limiting damage and preserving Azerbaijan’s existence.”
The new leader’s first military decisions involve strategic retreats and consolidation rather than offensive operations. Reality replaces rhetoric.
Historical Patterns
Aliyev’s return reflects broader post-Soviet patterns - former Communist leaders returning as stability guarantors after democratic experiments fail. From Central Asia to the Caucasus, old elites reclaim power.
“The Soviet generation understands governance in ways democratic idealists don’t,” reflects historian Stephen Kotkin. “When crisis comes, experience matters more than ideals.”
Future Uncertain
As Aliyev settles into the presidential office he last occupied as Communist satrap, Azerbaijan’s trajectory seems clear - authoritarian stability replacing democratic chaos. Whether this saves or merely delays Azerbaijan’s dissolution remains uncertain.
“He’s buying time,” analyzes opposition figure Isa Gambar. “But time for what? To build real state or just personal power?”
The immediate relief of having competent leadership may fade as Aliyev’s authoritarian instincts reassert. Today’s savior could become tomorrow’s dictator.
New Chapter Begins
Tonight, Heydar Aliyev sleeps in Baku for the first time in three years. The master politician has engineered remarkable comeback. The Communist boss dismissed as history’s relic returns as nation’s last hope.
“I’ve seen too much to believe in miracles,” he told close associates. “But I know how to make deals and manage crisis. That’s what Azerbaijan needs.”
As artillery echoes from approaching frontlines and refugees crowd Baku’s streets, Azerbaijan begins another experiment - whether twentieth-century strongman can save twenty-first-century nation.
The democratic interlude ends where it began, with Aliyev in power. But everything else has changed - territory lost, people displaced, hopes shattered. The old fox returns to guard a much-diminished henhouse, surrounded by circling predators.
History will judge whether Aliyev saved Azerbaijan or merely managed its decline. But tonight, exhausted nation simply feels relief that adults have returned to the room, even if they’re adults from another era with bloodstained hands.