People's Artist Arif Babayev has passed away.

Axar.az reports that he passed away today.

The People's Artist was hospitalized on July 23 with a diagnosis of acute respiratory failure at the Gakh District Central Hospital. Since his condition was critical, he was evacuated to a medical institution in the capital and continued his treatment there until his death.

It should be noted that Arif Babayev was born on February 20, 1938, in the village of Sarijaly, Agdam. After graduating from the Azerbaijan University of Culture and Art, he worked at the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic and the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater.

Arif Babayev created memorable characters in mugham operas such as Majnun, Kerem (U. Hajibeyov "Leyli and Majnun", "Asli and Kerem"), Ashiq Garib (Z. Hajibeyov "Ashiq Garib"), Jamal (Sh. Akhundova "Gelin Qayasi"), and all mugham dastgahs performed by him were recorded and included in the "Golden Fund" of Azerbaijan State Television.

The singer, who was hired as the first mugham teacher at the Azerbaijan State Conservatory in 1984, received the title of mugham professor for the first time in history in 1990 and headed the Mugham Department of the National Conservatory for a long time.

People's Artist, holder of the orders "Glory", "Honor", "Independence", was awarded the "100th Anniversary of Heydar Aliyev (1923–2023)" jubilee medal on February 2, 2024, and the Heydar Aliyev Award on May 8, 2025.

May God have mercy on him!