Today is the birthday of Mehriban Aliyeva, the First Vice-President of Azerbaijan, the First Lady of the country.
Mehriban Aliyeva was born on August 26, 1964 in Baku, into an intelligent family. In 1981, having graduated from secondary school No. 23 in Baku with a gold medal, she entered the treatment and prevention faculty of the Azerbaijan State Medical Institute named after N. Narimanov. In 1988, she graduated from the First Moscow State Medical Institute named after I.M. Sechenov with honors.
In 1988-1990, she completed a clinical residency in the specialty "Eye Diseases" at the First Moscow State Medical Institute named after I.M. Sechenov. From 1990-1995, she worked at the Scientific Research Institute of Eye Diseases in Moscow under the leadership of Academician Krasnov.
In 1995, the Azerbaijan Cultural Foundation, which she currently heads, was established on the initiative of Mehriban Aliyeva. In 1996, Mehriban Aliyeva founded the "Azerbaijan - Heritage" magazine, published in three languages (Azerbaijani, English and Russian) to widely promote Azerbaijani culture.
On October 7, 2002, she was elected president of the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation (AGF). In that year, the AGF's activities included the development of 4 types of gymnastics, but today 9 types of gymnastics are being developed in our country. Our gymnasts have participated in the Olympic Games and have won prizes at the World and European Championships. Since 2014, the National Gymnastics Arena, considered one of the rare sports facilities in the world, has been put into operation for our gymnasts to train and hold competitions.
Mehriban Aliyeva heads the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, which was established with the aim of studying the rich heritage of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people and also constantly instilling the ideas of national statehood created by Heydar Aliyev in new generations.
On August 13, 2004, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the title of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for her tireless efforts in the field of preservation and development of the oral folk literature and musical heritage of Azerbaijan. On November 15, 2022, she sent a letter to the UNESCO Director-General to terminate her activities as a Goodwill Ambassador.
On December 28, 2004, Mehriban Aliyeva was elected a member of the NOC Executive Committee at the IV General Assembly of the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
In March 2005, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the "Caspian Energy Integration Award-2005" international award in the nomination "Public Figure of the Year 2004".
According to a sociological survey conducted in Azerbaijan in 2005, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the title of "Woman of the Year".
On June 9, 2005, for her public, philanthropic and charitable activities, support of educational and cultural institutions, and significant contribution to strengthening friendship between the peoples of Russia and Azerbaijan, she was awarded the "Ruby Cross" Order of the International Charitable Foundation of Russia "Patrons of the Century".
In 2005, she defended her dissertation on the topic "Euthanasia and the Problem of Humanism in Medicine" and received the degree of Candidate of Philosophy.
In the elections to the Milli Majlis held on November 6, 2005, Mehriban Aliyeva, nominated by the New Azerbaijan Party from the second constituency No. 14 Azizbeyov (now Khazar), was elected a deputy, gaining 92.12% (23,106 votes).
The National Hero Chingiz Mustafayev Foundation and the ANS Group of Companies have declared Mehriban Aliyeva "Person of the Year 2005" for her services in the development of our country's education system, the preservation and promotion of our national cultural heritage in the world, the work she has done to strengthen the positive image of our people in foreign countries, the high-level preparation and holding of the 27th World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship in our republic, and her large-scale charitable activities.
Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the gold medal of the UN World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in March 2006 for her contributions to the preservation of cultural and spiritual values.
For her extensive and selfless activities in various fields, including dialogue between civilizations, attention to children in need of care, improvement of their living conditions, education, as well as great support for the work done in the Islamic world, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the title of ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador on November 23, 2006.
By the unanimous decision of the 120th session of the Executive Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) held in Geneva on January 29, 2007, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the award of this international organization for her exceptional services in the protection and strengthening of maternal, child and family health.
In May 2007, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the "Golden Heart" international award for her large-scale charitable activities and high achievements in serving the highest ideals of humanity.
By the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated May 5, 2009, Mehriban Aliyeva was appointed as the First Lady of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
She was awarded the Heydar Aliyev Prize for her fruitful activities in political and cultural life.
On September 14, 2009, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the Grand Cross of the Commander of the Order of the Republic of Poland "For Services" for her services to the development of friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Poland.
On February 15, 2010, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the rank of officer of the Legion of Honor by the Decree of the President of the French Republic for her services and demonstrated loyalty to France.
On July 30, 2010, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the UNESCO "Golden Mozart" medal.
In the elections to the Milli Majlis held on November 7, 2010, Mehriban Aliyeva, nominated by the New Azerbaijan Party from the second Khazar constituency No. 14, was elected as a deputy with 94.49% (31,797 votes).
On June 24, 2011, Mehriban Aliyeva was presented with the Gold Medal of the Crans Montana Forum, and on June 29, 2012, she was awarded the "Prix de la Fondation" award.
On February 13, 2012, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the title of Honorary Professor of the First Moscow State Medical University named after I.M. Sechenov of the Russian Federation.
On April 13, 2012, Mehriban Aliyeva was presented with the "Stars of the Union" interstate award by the Humanitarian Cooperation Council (HCC) of the CIS member states and the Interstate Humanitarian Cooperation Fund (IHCF) of the CIS member states.
In 2012, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the highest award "Cossack Glory" ("Kazatskaya slava") by the Union of Cossacks of Azerbaijan "for her compassion, kindness, tireless work for the welfare of peoples and assistance to the Cossacks."
On December 8, 2012, the General Assembly of the European Olympic Committee adopted a decision to hold the 1st European Games in Baku in 2015. In order to hold the 1st European Games at a high level, an Organizing Committee was established on January 17, 2013, and Mehriban Aliyeva was appointed its chairwoman.
In January 2013, the influential Pakistani newspaper "Daily Times" and the Women's Volunteers Organization declared Mehriban Aliyeva "Symbol of Humanism - Person of the Year 2012".
On June 7, 2013, she was elected as the Deputy Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party.
On December 27, 2013, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the "Martyr Benazir Bhutto Women's Excellence Award - 2013" by Pakistan.
According to the results of a survey conducted jointly by the French Center for Arab Cultural Heritage and the Egyptian company "Nefertiti Media Productions" from March 8, 2013 to January 10, 2014, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the title of the most influential woman of 2014.
In May 2014, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the honorary award of the Turkish-German Friendship Federation for her contributions to the dialogue between civilizations, as well as for her services to the promotion of the Turkic world in Germany, and the development of Azerbaijani-German relations.
For her active participation in the public, social and cultural life of Azerbaijan, her significant contributions to the dynamic development of society, her invaluable services in the field of promoting Azerbaijani culture in the world, as well as her comprehensive support for the preservation of world cultural heritage, and her commitment to the principles of social justice and humanism, she was awarded the "First Lady of the Year" award by "The Business Year" magazine in May 2014.
In June 2014, she was awarded the "Olympic Excellence" special honorary award of the International Olympic Academy for her services in promoting Olympic values.
In August 2014, she was awarded the Order "For Services to the Astrakhan Region" and the Diploma of Honor of the State of Kuwait for her great contribution to the wide dissemination of Islamic cultural heritage in the world, noble charitable activities in Azerbaijan and abroad, and her great contributions to education and medicine.
On February 11, 2015, she was awarded the highest order of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan "Hilal-e Pakistan".
On March 26, 2015, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the highest state award of the Republic of Serbia - the Order of "Sreten" for her special services to Serbia in the public, cultural and humanitarian spheres.
By the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev dated June 29, 2015, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the "Heydar Aliyev" Order for her effective activities in the development of culture, education, healthcare and sports in the Republic of Azerbaijan, for her extensive promotion of the cultural heritage of the Azerbaijani people on an international scale and for her great services in organizing the first European Games.
In the elections to the Milli Majlis held on November 1, 2015, Mehriban Aliyeva, nominated by the New Azerbaijan Party from the 14th Khazar constituency, was elected a deputy with 96.7% (38,029 votes).
The National Hero Chingiz Mustafayev Foundation and the ANS Group of Companies have declared Mehriban Aliyeva "Person of the Year 2015" for her exceptional role in the high-level organization and holding of the first European Games "Baku-2015", for her large-scale activities in promoting the positive image of Azerbaijan in the world, for her work for the mutual integration of Azerbaijani and world culture, for her contributions to the formation of a multicultural environment in the country, and for her consistent charitable activities.
On January 21, 2016, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the Supreme Order, the highest award of the European Olympic Committees, by the decision of the Executive Committee of the European Olympic Committees, for her special services in the development of sports in Europe.
On March 6, 2016, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the "Hungarian Commander's Cross for Merit".
At the 4th Congress of World Azerbaijanis held in Baku in 2016, she was elected a member of the Coordination Council of World Azerbaijanis.
On September 22, 2016, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the diploma of an honorary citizen of the city and a badge for her services in protecting the cultural heritage of the Bulgarian city of Veliko Tarnovo.
On September 22, 2016, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the diploma of an honorary doctor of the University of Veliko Tarnovo named after Saints Cyril and Methodius for her great contribution to the protection and promotion of the cultural heritage of Bulgaria and her active participation in this work.
On February 21, 2017, by the decree of President Ilham Aliyev, Mehriban Aliyeva was appointed First Vice-President of Azerbaijan.
In connection with this appointment, on March 6, 2017, the powers of Mehriban Aliyeva, a deputy of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan of the 5th convocation, were terminated.
On June 2, 2017, she was elected an honorary member of the Union of Architects of Azerbaijan. For her activities in preserving the architectural heritage of Azerbaijan and her contributions to this field, Mehriban Aliyeva was also awarded the "Academician Mikayil Huseynov" commemorative medal.
On December 26, 2017, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the Order of the Holy Princess Olga, II degree, for her assistance to the Russian Orthodox Church and care for the improvement of the city of Astrakhan.
On March 15, 2018, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the Gold Medal of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center for her contributions to the development of global projects, education, science and culture.
On July 18, 2018, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the Order of the Grand Cross of the Cavalier of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.
On September 22, 2018, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the "For Special Services" medal of the International Fair Play Committee for her exemplary achievements in the world of sports and in promoting "Fair Play".
On January 18, 2019, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the "Uzeyir Hajibeyli" honorary medal established by the Azerbaijan Composers' Union for her invaluable contribution to preserving and passing on to future generations the rich heritage of the great composer, founder of modern Azerbaijani music, Uzeyir Hajibeyli.
On August 13, 2019, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the Russian Order of "Friendship" by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin for her services in developing and strengthening Azerbaijani-Russian relations.
On February 22, 2020, Mehriban Aliyeva was awarded the highest degree of the Order of the Knight of the Pope - the Grand Cross of the Order of Pius IX - for her contributions to the development of culture, including mutual relations with the institutions of the Holy See.
On March 5, 2021, by the Order of the Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party, Ilham Aliyev, she was appointed First Deputy Chairman of the party.
Mehriban Aliyeva married Ilham Aliyev in 1983.
We congratulate Mehriban Aliyeva on her birthday, wishing her a long life, good health and success in her activities!
