Heydar Aliyev
Heydar Alirza oghlu Aliyev or Geidar Aliev , also spelled Haydar Aliev or Geidar Aliev was the third President of Azerbaijan for the New Azerbaijan Party from October 1993 to October 2003, when his son Ilham Aliyev succeeded him. From 1969 to 1982, Aliyev was also the leader of Soviet Azerbaijan, effectively dominating the political life of Azerbaijan for many years. His personality cult has developed in Azerbaijan following his death.
Many of the details of Aliyevs early life are obscure. According to his website, he was born in Nakhchivan City. After graduating from Nakhchivan Pedagogical School, from 1939 to 1941 Aliyev attended the Azerbaijan Industrial Institute , where he studied architecture. In 1949 and 1950, he studied at the USSR MGB Officer Corps QualificationsRaising School. Aliyevs official biography also stated that he studied at Baku State University, graduating with a degree in history in 1957. According to American journalist Pete Earley, Aliyev first attended the Ministry of State Security Academy in Leningrad, graduating in 1944.
Source: Wikipedia