List of Azerbaijanis

This is a list of prominent people from the Republic of Azerbaijan (or, previously, the Azerbaijan SSR) and Azeri people from Iran.

Republic of Azerbaijan

Actors

• Siyavush Aslan, actor
• Fakhraddin Manafov, actor
• Huseyngulu Sarabski, theatre actor
• Melahat Abbasova, actress in Turkey (born in Baku)
• Yashar Nuri, actor
• Nasiba Zeynalova, actress
• Arif Guliyev, actor

Art

• Mikail Abdullayev, painter
• Sattar Bahlulzadeh, painter
• Alibey Huseynzadeh, painter
• Togrul Narimanbekov, painter
• Tahir Salahov, painter
• Sadig Sharifzadeh, painter

Authors

• Chingiz Abdullayev, writer
• Mirza Fatali Akhundov, writer
• Banine, French writer
• Fuzûlî, poet
• Jalil Mammadguluzadeh, writer
• Imadaddin Nasimi, poet
• Khurshidbanu Natavan, poetess
• Lev Nussimbaum, writer
• Mirza Alakbar Sabir, poet
• Abdulla Shaig, poet
• Molla Panah Vagif, poet
• Aliagha Vahid, poet
• Mirza Shafi Vazeh, poet
• Samad Vurgun, poet
• Nizami Ganjavi, poet
• Seyid Azim Shirvani, poet
• Nasimi, poet
• Anar, writer
• Suleyman Rustam, poet
• Shah Ismayil Khatai, poet

Businessmen

• Aras Agalarov, the owner and president of "Crocus International" based in Moscow, Russia
• Azay Mokhnatov, the owner and president of "AF Group"
• Vagit Alekperov, President of the leading Russian oil company LUKOIL
• Farkhad Akhmedov, Northgas, Geokchay Konserv, Senator
• Igor Ashurbeyli, general director of Russia’s largest air-defence weapon manufacturers Almaz (developers of S-300 antimissile systems)
• Telman Ismailov, the owner and president of "AST Company" based in Moscow, Russia, of Mountain Jewish origin
• Mubariz Mansimov, President of Palmali Group of Companies based in Istanbul, Turkey
• Murtuza Mukhtarov, oil industrialist and millionaire in Czarist Russia
• Musa Nagiyev, industrial oil magnate in Czarist Russia
• Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev, oil millionaire in Czarist Russia

Film Industry

Main article: Cinema of Azerbaijan

• Magsud Ibrahimbeyov, film director
• Rustam Ibragimbekov, screen writer
• Mubariz Nagiyev, film director
• Vagif Mustafayev, film director

Military

• Azi Aslanov, Soviet army general, twice Hero of the Soviet Union
• Samedbey Mehmandarov, Russian army general, Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
• Hussein Khan Nakhichevanski, Russian Imperial Cavalry General and General-Adjutant of the Emperor of Russia
• Masey Sulkevich, General of Russian Empire, then became first chief of staff of army of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1918, of Lipka Tatar origin
• Ali-Agha Shikhlinski, Russian Imperial army general, deputy Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic

Music

Main article: Music of Azerbaijan

File:Sh alakbarova.PNG

Shovkat Alakbarova

• Shovkat Alakbarova, singer
• Habil Aliyev, kamancha player
• Franghiz Ali-Zadeh, composer
• Fikret Amirov, composer
• Ali Salimi, composer.Musician in Ardabil city.
• Rashid Behbudov, singer and actor
• Bulbul, singer
• Polad Bulbuloglu, composer and singer
• Bella Davidovich, pianist
• Gara Garayev, composer
• Tofig Guliyev, composer
• Uzeyir Hajibeyov, composer
• Ella Leya, singer
• Muslim Magomayev, opera singer
• Shovkat Mammadova, the first Azeri female opera singer
• Oleg Marshev, pianist
• Fatma Mukhtarova, opera singer
• Rubaba Muradova, singer
• Vagif Mustafa Zadeh, jazz pianist and composer
• Aziza Mustafa Zadeh, jazz singer/pianist
• Niyazi, composer and conductor
• Alim Qasimov, Mugham singer
• Mstislav Rostropovich, cellist
• Parviz Rustambeyov, saxophone player and one of the founders of Azeri jazz
• Alihan Samedov, balaban (duduk)player
• Dmitry Sitkovetsky, violinist and conductor
• Rain Sultanov, jazzman
• Zeynab Khanlarova, singer
• Abdulbagi Ali oglu Zulalov, (mugam) singer
• Sevda Alakbarzadeh, singer

Politicians

Main article: Politics of Azerbaijan

• Heydar Aliyev, president of Azerbaijan Republic (1993-2003)
• Ilham Aliyev, prime minister (2003), president (2003-)
• Meshadi Azizbekov, revolutionary, of the 26 Baku Commissars
• Nikolai Baibakov, Head of Gosplan (State Committee for Planning) of the USSR
• Abulfaz Elchibey, president of Azerbaijan Republic (1992-3)
• Rasul Guliyev, ex speaker of National Assembly of Azerbaijan (1993-6)
• Hasan Hasanov, prime minister (1990-2), foreign minister (1993-8)
• Fatali Khan Khoyski, Prime Minister, one of the founding leaders of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
• Gazanfar Musabekov, Chairman of the Central Executive Committee of Azerbaijan SSR
• Ayaz Mutalibov, president of Azerbaijan Republic
• Nariman Narimanov, Chairman of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR
• Sabit Orujov, Minister of Gas Industry of the USSR
• Mammed Amin Rasulzade, one of the founders of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
• Alimardan Topchubashev, Speaker of Parliament, one of the founding leaders of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
• Mir Hasan Vazirov, revolutionary, of the 26 Baku Commissars

Scientists

• Abbasgulu Bakikhanov, historian and writer
• Kerim Kerimov, head of Soviet space program
• Farman Salmanov, geologist
• Zeynalabdin Shirvani, traveller and geographer
• Movlazadeh Mahammad Hasan Shakavi, philosopher, alim and the first Sheikh ul-Islam of the Caucasus

Sports

• Movlud Miraliyev, judoka, Olympic champion
• Rovshan Bayramov, wrestler, Olympic champion
• Elnur Mammadli, judoka, Olympic champion
• Shirvani Muradov, wrestler, Olympic champion
• Vitaliy Rahimov, wrestler, Olympic champion
• Tofik Bakhramov, the 'Russian' linesman from 1966 World Cup final
• Namig Abdullayev, wrestler, Olympic champion
• Rafael Agayev, Karate World Champion
• Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, chess grandmaster
• Alekper Mamedov, USSR soccer star
• Farid Mansurov, wrestler, Olympic champion
• Zemfira Meftakhetdinova, sport shooter, Olympic champion
• Nizami Pashayev, weightlifter, winner of the world and European championships
• Teimour Radjabov, chess grandmaster

Other

• Sureyya Agaoglu, first female lawyer in Turkey
• Avaz Alakbarov, Finance Minister (1999 to 2006)
• Misha Black, industrial designer
• Ziya Buniatov, historian
• Masud ibn Davud, the architect of Maiden Tower
• Musa Manarov, Soviet cosmonaut
• Shirali Mislimov, long-liver
• Sarhat Rashidova, was believed to be the oldest person to live on Earth as of January 2007
• Yosef Shagal, TV journalist and MP in Israel
• Richard Sorge, Soviet spy, of Caucasus German origin
• Alexander Kazembek, famous Russian orientalist, historian and philologist

Iran

Main article: Iranian Azeris

In politics and Military

• Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran
• Parviz Davoudi, current First Vice-President of Iran
• Mohammad Khatami, former president, is half Azari
• Parviz Fattah, current Minister of Energy
• Yahya Safavi, head of IRGC
• Ali Meshkini, influential cleric and the ex-chairman of Assembly of Experts
• Grand Ayatollah Musavi Ardabili, former Judiciary Chairman of Iran
• Mir-Hossein Mousavi, former Prime Minister of Iran
• Sattar Khan, constitutional revolutionary leader
• Bagher Khan, constitutional revolutionary leader
• Ali Soheili, Prime Minister of Iran
• Ebrahim Hakimi, Prime Minister of Iran
• Tadfel Molouk Ayrumlu, general of the Qajar army
• Abbas Gharabaghi, Iran's last Army Chief of Staff under the Pahlavi regime.
• Hossein Mousavi Tabrizi, former chief prosecutor of the Revolutionary Court
• Ahmad Kasravi, Iranian nationalist politician and author
• Mina Ahadi, Communist Activist from WPI
• Mahmud Jam, Prime Minister of Iran
• Sadegh Khalkhali, hardline Shia cleric of the Islamic Republic
• Mohammad Khiabani, famous cleric, politician
• Ramin Jahanbegloo, political philosopher
• Hassan Roshdieh, famous cleric, politician
• Gholam Reza Aghazadeh, president of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran
• Mehdi Bakeri, Iranian war hero
• Reza Moridi, member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Canada (Orumieh native)
• Tadj ol-Molouk, mother of the last Shah of Iran
• Farah Pahlavi, (Farah Diba) the last Queen of Iran (Mohammadreza Shah's wife)
• Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran (Azeri mother)
• Reza Pahlavi, son of Mohammadreza and Farah Pahlavi, claimant to the Iranian throne

Grand Ayatollahs

In addition to those mentioned above:

• Mousavi Ardabili, he was the first head of the Judicial system of the Islamic Republic of Iran (1980-1989)
• Abul-Qassim Khoei
• Allameh Tabatabaei
• Fazel Lankarani
• Mousa Shubairi Zanjani
• Mohammad Kazem Shariatmadari
• Jawad Tabrizi
• Javad Gharavi Aliari
• Moslem Malakouti

In literature

• Shams Tabrizi, mystic
• Iraj Mirza, poet and politician
• Mohammad Hossein Shahriar, poet
• Parvin E'tesami, poetess
• Samad Behrangi, political writer
• Gholam Hossein Saedi, writer
• Reza Baraheni, writer
• Ebrahim Nabavi, political commentator and satirist
• Afshin Molavi, journalist and writer
• Táhirih, poet, theologian of the Bábí faith, and women's rights activist

In the arts

• Aydin Aghdashloo, painter
• Samin Baghtcheban, musician, writer and translator
• Davood Behboodi, singer
• Dariush Eghbali, singer and actor
• Googoosh, singer and actress
• Nooshafarin, singer
• Haydar Hatemi, painter
• Ebrahim Hatamikia, film director
• Rasoul Mollagholipour, film director
• Marjane Satrapi, animated film director
• Kamal Tabrizi, film director
• Sami Yusuf, British singer, song-writer and musician
• Parviz Parastui, actor
• Akbar Abdi,actor
• Tahmineh Milani,film director

In sports

• Ali Daei, football player, head coach of the Iran national football team
• Hossein Reza Zadeh, World champion weight-lifter
• Hadi Saei, World champion Taekwondo athlete
• Karim Bagheri, football player
• Rasoul Khatibi, football player
• Hosein Khatibi, football player
• Hamid Estili, football player
• Yahya Golmohammadi, football player
• Hamid Derakhshan, football player
• Mohammad Nosrati, football player
• Aliakbar Ostad Asadi, football player
• Javad Allahverdi, football player
• Ahad Sheykhlari, football player
• Aziz Asli, football player
• Farshad Pious, football player
• Gholamreza Fathabadi, football player
• Yousef Karami, Iranian taekwondo athlete

Scientists

• Maziar Ashrafian Bonab, genetic scientist
• Kazem Sadegh-Zadeh, philosopher of medicine
• Ali Javan, famous physicist

Other

• Jabbar Baghtcheban, educator, inventor of Persian sign language
• Sona Babai, oldest naturalized Iranian American

See also

• Heroes of Azerbaijan
• Azerbaijani people
• Iranian origin of the Azerbaijanis