Today marks the birthday of Mehriban Aliyeva, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador.
According to APA, Mehriban Arif qizi Aliyeva was born on August 26, 1964, in Baku.
In 1982, she graduated with a gold medal from Secondary School No. 23 in Baku and entered the Treatment-Prophylaxis Faculty of the Azerbaijan State Medical Institute named after N. Narimanov. In 1988, she graduated with honors from the I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical Institute. From 1988 to 1992, she worked under the guidance of academician Krasnov at the Eye Diseases Research Institute in Moscow.
In 1995, on her initiative, the Friends of Azerbaijani Culture Foundation was established. In 1996, with the aim of widely promoting Azerbaijani culture, Mehriban Aliyeva founded the magazine Azerbaijan – Heritage, published in three languages (Azerbaijani, English, and Russian).
In 2002, Mehriban Aliyeva was elected President of the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation.
She also heads the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, which was officially inaugurated on May 10, 2004. The Foundation carries out charity work and implements projects in education, culture, and the arts. These projects extend beyond Azerbaijan. Humanitarian initiatives under her leadership have gained global recognition. For example, a new school for girls was built in Pakistan, humanitarian campaigns were organized in Islamabad and other provinces, restoration projects were carried out at the Palace of Versailles, a medieval church in Strasbourg, a Louvre Museum gallery, and the Roman catacombs. The construction of the Azerbaijan–Russia Friendship Bridge in Astrakhan, the erection of the first monument to St. Prince Vladimir in Russia, and other initiatives are among the Foundation’s charitable works.
On August 13, 2004, for her contribution to the preservation and promotion of Azerbaijan’s oral folk literature and musical heritage, Mehriban Aliyeva was named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. However, in November 2022, she stepped down from this role, explaining in a letter to the Director-General of UNESCO that her extensive involvement in the large-scale restoration and reconstruction efforts following the liberation of Azerbaijani lands from occupation made it impossible to devote sufficient attention to her duties as an ambassador.
On December 28, 2004, at the IV General Assembly of the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan, she was elected to the NOC Executive Committee.
In 2005, based on a sociological survey in Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva was named “Woman of the Year.” On June 9, 2005, she was awarded the “Ruby Cross” Order of the International Charity Foundation “Patrons of the Century” of Russia for her public, philanthropic, and charitable activities, her support for education and culture, and her significant contribution to strengthening friendship between the Russian and Azerbaijani peoples.
In 2005, she earned a Ph.D. in Philosophy. On November 24, 2006, she was named an ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador for her broad and selfless activity in various fields, including intercultural dialogue, her attention to children in need, her contributions to improving their living conditions and education, and her strong support for initiatives in the Islamic world.
On January 29, 2007, the Executive Board of the World Health Organization, in its 120th session in Geneva, unanimously awarded Mehriban Aliyeva a prize for her outstanding services in protecting and strengthening maternal, child, and family health.
In May 2007, she received the international “Golden Heart” award for her large-scale charitable activities and significant achievements in serving the highest ideals of humanity.
On September 14, 2009, she was awarded the Grand Commander Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland for her contribution to the development of friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Poland.
On February 10, 2010, by decree of the President of France, she was awarded the Order of the Legion of Honor, Grand Cross.
On June 24, 2011, she received the Golden Medal of the Crans Montana Forum.
On April 13, 2012, she was awarded the “Stars of the Commonwealth” interstate prize by the CIS Interstate Humanitarian Cooperation Fund and the CIS Humanitarian Cooperation Council.
On December 27, 2013, she received Pakistan’s “Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women Excellence Award – 2013.”
In May 2014, for her contribution to intercultural dialogue and the promotion of Turkic heritage in Germany, as well as for her efforts in strengthening Azerbaijani-German relations, she received the Honorary Award of the German-Turkish Friendship Federation.
In June 2014, for her services in promoting Olympic values, she was awarded the “Olympic Excellence” Special Honorary Award of the International Olympic Academy.
On August 9, 2019, by decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the “Order of Friendship” for her role in developing and strengthening Russia–Azerbaijan relations.
She has also been decorated with Azerbaijan’s “Heydar Aliyev” Order, Italy’s Grand Cross of the Order of Merit, Pakistan’s “Hilal-e Pakistan” Order, Serbia’s “Sreten” Order, Hungary’s Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit, the 2nd Degree Order of St. Princess Olga of the Russian Orthodox Church, Russia’s Order “For Services to Astrakhan Region,” UNESCO’s “Golden Mozart” Medal, the Gold Medal of the World Intellectual Property Organization, the Supreme Order of the European Olympic Committees, the Medal “For Special Services” of the International Fair Play Committee, the Gold Medal of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, and the Honorary Diploma of the State of Kuwait.
Her leadership in organizing the I European Games in Azerbaijan and the IV Islamic Solidarity Games was highly praised by the international community.
Mehriban Aliyeva is an Honorary Professor of the I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of Russia and an Honorary Doctor of Veliko Tarnovo University named after St. Cyril and Methodius in Bulgaria.
On February 21, 2017, by decree of President Ilham Aliyev, she was appointed First Vice-President of Azerbaijan. In this role, she has focused primarily on addressing social issues and the needs of vulnerable groups of the population. Families of martyrs, war veterans, internally displaced persons, children with disabilities, and low-income families are always at the center of her attention.
She is also Deputy Chairperson of the New Azerbaijan Party.
Mehriban Aliyeva is married and has two daughters and one son.
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