Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed an order on May 18 to appoint Vagif Aliyev the country’s first deputy minister of culture, the ministry’s information and public relations department told Axar.az.

Vagif Aliyev worked as first deputy minister of youth and sports from 1994 to 2001, and as first deputy minister of youth, sports and tourism from 2001 to 2003. From 2003 to 2011, he was the head of Sumgait City Executive Authority. On February 18, 2011, he became the first deputy minister of culture and tourism, according to a decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev. Vagif Aliyev is a candidate of physical and mathematical sciences.