Editing Heydar Aliyev (section)

==Return to Azerbaijan and Presidency (1993–2003):==
Post-Soviet Return: After his dismissal, Aliyev returned to Nakhchivan, becoming a local political figure. In 1993, he seized power in Azerbaijan following a military coup that ousted President Abulfaz Elchibey.

Presidential Tenure: Installed as president in October 1993, Aliyev won an election with nearly 99% of the vote, ending Azerbaijan’s brief democratic experiment. His regime was described as dictatorial, with rigged elections, repressed dissent, and a cult of personality. Key achievements included:
Caspian Oil Deals: Aliyev secured the “Contract of the Century” (1994), giving Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR a 20% share in a consortium with BP, Aramco, and others, boosting the economy.

Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict: He managed the ongoing war with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, signing a 1994 ceasefire but failing to resolve the dispute.

Foreign Relations: Aliyev cultivated ties with the West (e.g., BP, U.S.), Russia (via agreements with Yeltsin and Putin), and Turkey, balancing geopolitical interests.

Succession: In 2003, facing health issues, Aliyev withdrew his candidacy and appointed his son Ilham Aliyev as the New Azerbaijan Party’s candidate. Ilham won an election on October 15, 2003, and Aliyev died on December 12, 2003, at the Cleveland Clinic. He was buried at the Alley of Honor in Baku.