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Azerbaijan The Coup of June 1993
In June 1993, an unsuccessful government attempt to disarm
mutinous paramilitary forces precipitated the fall of
Azerbaijan's fourth government since independence and provided
the opportunity for Aliyev's return to power. The erstwhile
communist's reappearance was part of a trend in which members of
the former elites in various parts of the old Soviet sphere
reclaimed authority. Suret Huseynov, a one-time troop commander
in Nagorno-Karabakh dismissed by Elchibey, led the paramilitary
forces that triggered the president's removal. In support of one
of Elchibey's rivals, Huseynov had amassed troops and weaponry
(largely obtained from the departing Russian military) in his
home territory. He then easily defeated army forces sent to
defeat him and precipitated a government crisis by marching
toward Baku with several thousand troops.
Huseynov's exploits thoroughly discredited the Elchibey APF
government in the minds of most Azerbaijanis. After several top
government officials were fired or resigned and massed
demonstrators demanded a change in government, Elchibey endorsed
Aliyev's election as chairman of the Melli-Majlis. After a brief
attempt to retain the presidency, Elchibey fled Baku in mid-June
as Huseynov's forces approached.
Aliyev announced his immediate assumption of power as acting
head of state, and within a week a bare quorum of Melli-Majlis
legislators, mostly former communist deputies, formally
transferred Elchibey's powers to Aliyev until a new president
could be elected. Aliyev then replaced Elchibey's ministers and
other officials with his own appointees. Huseynov received the
post of prime minister. The legislature also granted Huseynov
control over the "power" ministries of defense, internal affairs,
and security.
In late July 1993, Aliyev convinced the legislature to hold a
popular vote of confidence on Elchibey's moribund presidency and
an extension of a state of emergency that had existed since April
1993 because of military setbacks. Although the APF boycotted the
referendum, more than 90 percent of the electorate reportedly
turned out to cast a 97 percent vote of no-confidence in
Elchibey's rule. This outcome buttressed Aliyev's position and
opened the way for new presidential elections.
In early September 1993, the Melli-Majlis scheduled new
presidential elections for October 3, 1993. Removal of the
maximum age requirement in the election law allowed Aliyev to
run. Aliyev's position was strengthened further in August when
paramilitary forces defeated a rebel warlord who had seized
several areas of southern Azerbaijan and declared an autonomous
republic of Talysh-Mugan.
Early in his tenure as acting president, Aliyev stated that
his political goals were to prevent civil war, regain territory
lost to Armenia during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and ensure
the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Aliyev claimed that
freedom of speech and human rights would be respected in
Azerbaijan, although he also called for continuing a state of
emergency that would ban political rallies. Huseynov had stated
in June that the Azerbaijani government would pursue a negotiated
settlement in Nagorno-Karabakh, but, if that failed, a military
victory was the goal. He added that the government focus would be
on improving the Azerbaijani armed forces, stabilizing the
economy, and securing food for the population.
Data as of March 1994
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