Strengthening fraternal relations between the peoples of Dagestan and Azerbaijan is crucial for the sustainable development of the entire Caucasus region.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, President Ilham Aliyev made these remarks while presenting the "Dostluq" (Friendship) Order to Gurban Gurbanov, a prominent public and political figure of the Republic of Dagestan, a constituent entity of the Russian Federation.
The head of state noted that he could not help but recall his grandfather, Aziz Aliyev, who led the republic during the difficult years of the Great Patriotic War. President Ilham Aliyev highlighted that his grandfather worked tirelessly to ensure that, unlike other peoples of the North Caucasus, the people of Dagestan were not subjected to mass repressions and deportations.
President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that the memory of Aziz Aliyev is deeply cherished in Dagestan. He noted that his grandfather's contributions to the region's development and his leadership during the wartime period remain a source of great pride for him as a grandson.
"There is a statue in my office. This statue was in Aziz Aliyev's office in Makhachkala. The people of Dagestan preserved it and recently gifted it to me. I have no other statues in this office or my other working offices; only this one exists," the President said.
"This is a memento of my grandfather, who, although I do not remember him, lives on in the historical memory of both Azerbaijanis and Dagestanis. Thus, we have many commonalities," he added.
Aziz Aliyev (1897–1962) was a prominent Azerbaijani statesman and physician. His tenure as the First Secretary of the Dagestan Regional Committee of the Communist Party (1942–1948) is historically significant for his efforts in stabilizing the region and protecting its population during the turbulent years of World War II. His legacy remains a cornerstone of the historical and cultural ties between Azerbaijan and the Republic of Dagestan.
