AZERBAÏJAN. Salyan. 2016.
Heydar Aliyev, a President of Azerbaijan SSR anointed by
the Russians, was responsible for the organisation of visits
of the top officials of the CPSU in his republic. For Brezhnev, who was visiting Baku, he built an impressive palace in the nearby mountains. The party’s General Secretary spent only two nights there. After Azerbaijan regained its independence, Aliyev continued to govern the country, ruthlessly suppressing the opposition and manning key positions in the state with the members of his family. Shortly before his death, Aliyev transferred his powers to his son, Iham Aliyev.