102 years since the birth of the outstanding orientalist scientist Ziya Buniyatov

Today is the birthday of the outstanding orientalist, historian, Hero of the Soviet Union, State Prize laureate, honored scientist, and academician Ziya Buniyatov.

Z.Buniyatov was born on December 24, 1923, in the city of Astara in the family of a World War I veteran.

After completing ten grades in 1939, he entered the Baku Military Infantry School, which he graduated from in May 1941 with the rank of lieutenant, also receiving an appointment as a rifle platoon commander in Bendery (Moldova).

He went to the front of the Great Patriotic War in August 1942. He actively participated in battles for Ukraine, Moldova, the Caucasus (in battles for Mozdok and Tuapse), Belarus and Poland. He made his way to Berlin. He was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union in 1945.

In 1946, Lieutenant Colonel Z.Buniyatov retired from service. In 1950, he graduated from the Moscow Institute of Oriental Studies, and in 1954 completed his postgraduate studies at Moscow State University. In May 1954, he defended his candidate's dissertation, and in August began working at the Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences (AS) of the Azerbaijan SSR.

In 1965, he was awarded the title of professor, and in 1967 he was elected a corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of the Azerbaijan SSR. In 1976, he was elected academician of the Academy of Sciences of the Azerbaijan SSR. From 1981, he was the director of the Institute of Oriental Studies, and from 1990 - vice-president of the Academy of Sciences of the Azerbaijan SSR.

Ziya Buniyatov was awarded the Orders of the Red Banner of the USSR, Alexander Nevsky, the Patriotic War 1st degree, the Red Star, and medals.

The murder of Z.Buniyatov occurred on the evening of February 21, 1997, in Baku, in the entrance of the building where the scientist lived. The killers inflicted five stab wounds and two point-blank pistol shots on the academician, after which they fled the scene.

In early 2001, the direct perpetrators of the crime, Nizami Nagiyev (one of the killers) and Mahir Zeynalov (the driver), were sentenced to life imprisonment. Five more members of the group were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment.

The second killer, Galib Babayev, was killed while attempting to cross the Azerbaijani-Iranian border back in March 1997. The leader of the group, Tariel Ramazanov, and several of its members were never caught. They managed to leave Azerbaijan and were put on the wanted list.

Ziya Buniyatov is buried at the Alley of Honor in Baku.