16 years have passed since the death of former Azerbaijani President Abulfaz Elchibey, one of the leaders of National Freedom Movement.

Mr. Elchibey was born on June 24, 1938, in the small town of Keleki in Ordubad District. In 1957, he graduated from the Faculty of Oriental Studies at Azerbaijan State University. He has been one of the leaders of the national movement in Azerbaijan at that time and one of the founders and the first chairman of Azerbaijan People’s Front.

A year after he was elected president in 1992, Elchibey left Baku for Keleki due to a revolt in Ganja. Later on, Elchibey’s powers were terminated with the decision of the Milli Majlis, and he resumed his activities as the chairman of the Azerbaijan People’s Front Party.

Abulfaz Elchibey died on August 22, 2000 in Gulhane Military Hospital in Turkey after a siege of illness. His body was flown to Baku and given the state funeral in the Alley of Honors.