Mammad Yusif Jafarov

Mammad Yusif Jafarov
Məmməd Yusif Cəfərov
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic(ADR)
In office March 14, 1919 – December 22, 1919
Preceded by	Fatali Khan Khoyski
Succeeded by	Fatali Khan Khoyski
DeputySpeaker of National Assembly of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic(ADR)
In office February 2, 1920 – April 27, 1920
Preceded by	Hasan bey Aghayev
Succeeded by	Office eliminated
Personal details
Born	(1885-04-01)April 1, 1885 Baku,Baku Governorate,Russian Empire
Died	May 15, 1938(1938-05-15)(aged 53) Baku,Azerbaijan SSR,Soviet Union
Political party	Musavat

Mammad Yusif Jafarov Hajibaba oghlu(Azerbaijani:Məmməd Yusif Cəfərov Hacıbaba oğlu;1 April [O.S.20 March], 1885 - May 15, 1938) was anAzerbaijanistatesman.

Early life

Jafarov was born on 1 April [O.S.20 March], 1885 inBaku,in theBaku Governorateof theRussian Empire(present-dayAzerbaijan).He was the younger brother of a prominent professor and journalist, Ali Isgender Jafarzadeh. After completion of hissecondary education,Jafarov studied in atMoscow State Universitygraduating with acum laudedegree in law in 1912. While in Moscow, he was one of the organizers of regular ethnic Azerbaijani concerts and co-founders of Azerbaijani diaspora organizations.

Political career

Russian Empire

In 1912, whenFourth Duma of Russian Empireconvened inSaint Petersburg,Mammad Yusif Jafarov was elected by the Muslim population ofBaku,GanjaandErivangovernorates to represent them in state parliament. In Saint Petersburg, he joinedConstitutional Democratic Party(also known asKadets). While in the Duma, he repeatedly criticizedTsar's government for their unjustcolonizationpolicy inAzerbaijan.On March 9, immediately after Russia'sFebruary Revolution,the interim government established the Transcaucasian Committee of the Duma. Jafarov was one of the members of the committee that managed the industrial and economic operations. On November 15, 1917, he was appointedCommissarof Industry and Trade ofTranscaucasian Commissariat.

Azerbaijan Democratic Republic

WhenAzerbaijan Democratic Republicwas proclaimed on May 28, 1918, Jafarov was appointed the Minister of Industry and Trade within the newCabinet of Azerbaijanestablished by Prime MinisterFatali Khan Khoyski.When the first cabinet was dissolved, he left his post and later served as a diplomatic representative of Azerbaijan in theGeorgiangovernment. On March 14, 1919, Jafarov was appointedMinister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijanby the new government of Prime MinisterNasib Yusifbeyli.Jafarov is credited for his extensive work in disseminating information about Azerbaijan in the international community. In October 1919, he joined theMusavatparty. In December of the same year, Jafarov resigned as the cabinet of Yusifbeyli dissolved. In February 1920, he was appointed Deputy Speaker ofParliament of Azerbaijan.Due to the absence of the SpeakerAlimardan Topchubashovwho was at theVersailles Peace Conferenceand eventually achieved thede factorecognition of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in January by the Council of Allied Powers,Jafarov served as the acting speaker and head of government until April 27, 1920, whenAzerbaijan was occupiedby Bolshevik11th Red Armyand ADR ceased to exist. He signed the documents of the peaceful surrender of the Azerbaijani government to the Bolsheviks.

Soviet Azerbaijan

During the Soviet rule ofAzerbaijan SSR,Jafarov retired from politics and worked as a legal counselor at Azerbaijani wine-making and cotton-wooltrusts.He died on May 15, 1938, in Baku.

See also

• Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan
• Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
• Azerbaijani National Council