This dyad belongs to the conflict Azerbaijan: Government
Summary of conflict Azerbaijan: Government
Newly independent Azerbaijan experienced a violent struggle over government power. In 1993, a military faction led by Suret Husseinov overthrew the Azerbaijani president Elchibey in a short armed conflict. Elichibey’s successor Heydar Aliyev faced a mutiny by the special police forces OPON in 1995. Aliyev’s troops defeated and disbanded the OPON Forces the same year.
Background
Newly independent Azerbaijan experienced a violent struggle over government power. In 1993, a military faction led by Suret Husseinov overthrew the Azerbaijani President Elchibey in a short armed conflict. Elichibey’s successor Heydar Aliyev faced a mutiny by the special police forces OPON in 1995. Aliyev’s troops defeated and disbanded the OPON Forces the same year.
1993 – Husseinov’s forces topple President Elchibey
The first uprising was launched in 1993. In February, a military officer named Suret Husseinov withdrew from Baku to the north of Azerbaijan. His move prompted allegations by President Elchibey that the planning of a military coup against the government was underway. Husseinov was subsequently dismissed from his posts and expelled from the Azerbaijani Popular Front Party. A state of emergency was declared in April. On 4 June, the President gave the army orders to attack the 709th Brigade, the unit still loyal to Husseinov. Around 70 people died in the clashes that followed. Husseinov's troops turned out to be the stronger party. This spurred the Husseinov military faction to march to Baku to depose President Elchibey from his position.
Husseinov's forces met hardly any resistance and could continue towards the capital. The President then sought the support of Heydar Aliyev, a former communist leader. However, when Elchibey fled Baku on 18 June, Aliyev proclaimed himself president. After Husseinov had taken Baku, he agreed with Aliyev to share power and subsequently became the premier minister. On 25 June, the legislative body voted to transfer President Elchibey's powers to Aliyev and to impeach Elchibey.
The conflict, thus, ended with the victory for the Husseinov military faction in cooperation with Heydar Aliyev. On 3 October 1993, Aliyev was elected president.
1995 – President Aliyev defeats the OPON forces
The situation in Azerbaijan remained turbulent after President Elchibey was toppled. In 1994, high-level mutinies and political murders took place. In autumn, the alliance between Husseinov and Aliyev broke down. Husseinov fled to Moscow after having been accused of plotting to overthrow Aliyev. Relations also strained between Aliyev and the OPON, the special police militia attached to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Allegedly, two political leaders were assassinated by the OPON. In connection to this incident, a number of OPON men were arrested.
In 1995, serious violence erupted once again. In mid-March, the OPON mutinied. On 13 March, the president formulated a decree that disbanded the OPON due to their coup attempt. A few days later, the government forces stormed the OPON headquarters. Violent clashes broke out. President Aliyev's troops were victorious, and the OPON was defeated and dissolved. Hundreds of people accused of associating with the OPON were arrested in the aftermath of the conflict. Unconfirmed reports stated that the APF and the former President Elchibey were involved in the OPON insurrection.
Heydar Aliyev kept being the president until 2003. On 15 October, His son Ilham Aliyev was elected president. Members of the opposition and international observers maintained that widespread electoral violations had taken place. Thus, democracy in Azerbaijan continued to be weak. Yet, no insurrections with a high number of casualties have occurred since 1995.
