About Imam Mustafayev
Imam Mustafayev, 87, Azerbaijani communist politician.
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Full Biography
|Imam Dashdemir oglu Mustafayev (Azerbaijani: İmam Daşdəmir oğlu Mustafayev; 25 February 1910 – 10 March 1997) was an Azerbaijani politician and scientist who headed the Azerbaijan SSR as the First Secretary of the Azerbaijan Communist Party from 1954 to 1959.
The son of a poor peasant, he was born in a village of the Qakh region in Azerbaijan. In 1928 he graduated from the Zaqatala Agricultural Technical School and in 1932 from the Institute of Agriculture of Azerbaijan (now Azerbaijan State University of Economics). Subsequently, he conducted scientific research. Mustafayev was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour and the Order of the Badge of Honour.
Political career
In 1940, he joined the Azerbaijan Communist Party and received many important encharges. In 1954, he was elected the First Secretary of Azerbaijan Communist Party. In 1956 together with the then chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan SSR, Mirza Ibrahimov, he was able to introduce a new paragraph to the constitution of the Azerbaijan SSR that for the first time since the Soviet invasion declared Azerbaijani language the official language of the Azerbaijan SSR. As a result of this step which was not agreed upon with Moscow (out of fears of it getting refused) Azerbaijani acquired increasingly an important status in the entire country. This was the main reason behind his premature removal from power. Mustafayev was implicitly accused of nationalism, and on 12 June 1959 he was fired for "not being able to cope with his work" and was expelled from membership of the bureau of the Azerbaijan Communist Party Central Committee. After being removed from that office, he worked as the Director of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imam_Mustafayev
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Imam Mustafayev's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was Imam Mustafayev removed from his political office?
- A.25 February 1910
- B.12 June 1959correct
- C.10 March 1997
- D.25 February 1959
Imam Mustafayev was fired from his position on 12 June 1959.
Source: political career section
2.What was the official reason cited for the firing of Imam Mustafayev?
- A.Ignoring orders from the agricultural academy
- B.Violating the Soviet constitution
- C.Not being able to cope with his workcorrect
- D.Nationalism
Imam Mustafayev was fired with the stated justification of not being able to cope with his work.
Source: political career section
3.What was the ultimate professional role Imam Mustafayev took after being removed from power?
- A.Director of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciencescorrect
- B.Peasant advisor
- C.Chairman of the Supreme Soviet
- D.Agricultural technical consultant
After his removal from office, Imam Mustafayev worked as the Director of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.
Source: political career section
4.What implicit accusation was leveled against Imam Mustafayev during his removal from power?
- A.Nationalismcorrect
- B.Scientific incompetence
- C.Neglect of agricultural duties
- D.Corruption
Imam Mustafayev was implicitly accused of nationalism during his removal from his political position.
Source: political career section
5.When did Imam Mustafayev pass away?
- A.25 February 1910
- B.25 February 1959
- C.12 June 1959
- D.10 March 1997correct
Imam Mustafayev died on 10 March 1997.
Source: biographical introduction
6.What region of Azerbaijan was the birthplace of Imam Mustafayev?
- A.Zaqatala region
- B.The capital region
- C.Qakh regioncorrect
- D.Baku region
Imam Mustafayev was born in a village in the Qakh region of Azerbaijan.
Source: biographical introduction
7.On what date was Imam Mustafayev born?
- A.25 February 1954
- B.25 February 1910correct
- C.10 March 1997
- D.12 June 1959
Imam Mustafayev was born on 25 February 1910.
Source: biographical introduction
8.What was the occupation of the father of Imam Mustafayev?
- A.A communist politician
- B.A scientist
- C.A poor peasantcorrect
- D.A wealthy landowner
Imam Mustafayev was the son of a poor peasant.
Source: biographical introduction
9.From which institution did Imam Mustafayev graduate in 1928?
- A.Institute of Agriculture of Azerbaijan
- B.Zaqatala Agricultural Technical Schoolcorrect
- C.Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences
- D.Azerbaijan State University of Economics
Imam Mustafayev graduated from the Zaqatala Agricultural Technical School in 1928.
Source: biographical introduction
10.What is the current name of the institution Imam Mustafayev graduated from in 1932?
- A.Azerbaijan National University
- B.Azerbaijan State University of Economicscorrect
- C.Qakh Technical Academy
- D.Baku Polytechnic Institute
Imam Mustafayev graduated from the Institute of Agriculture of Azerbaijan, now known as the Azerbaijan State University of Economics, in 1932.
Source: biographical introduction
11.Which of these awards was Imam Mustafayev given during his career?
- A.Hero of Socialist Labour
- B.Order of the October Revolution
- C.Order of the Red Banner of Labourcorrect
- D.Order of Lenin
Imam Mustafayev was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour and the Order of the Badge of Honour.
Source: biographical introduction
12.In what year did Imam Mustafayev join the Azerbaijan Communist Party?
- A.1932
- B.1940correct
- C.1959
- D.1954
Imam Mustafayev joined the Azerbaijan Communist Party in 1940.
Source: political career section
13.What position did Imam Mustafayev hold from 1954 to 1959?
- A.First Secretary of the Azerbaijan Communist Partycorrect
- B.Chairman of the Supreme Soviet
- C.Minister of Agriculture
- D.Director of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences
Imam Mustafayev served as the First Secretary of the Azerbaijan Communist Party from 1954 to 1959.
Source: political career section
14.With whom did Imam Mustafayev collaborate to amend the constitution in 1956?
- A.The First Secretary of Moscow
- B.Mirza Ibrahimovcorrect
- C.Dashdemir Mustafayev
- D.A high-ranking scientist
In 1956, Imam Mustafayev worked with the chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan SSR, Mirza Ibrahimov, to modify the constitution.
Source: political career section
15.What change did Imam Mustafayev introduce to the constitution of the Azerbaijan SSR in 1956?
- A.He made the Azerbaijani language the official language of the republic.correct
- B.He established a new agricultural curriculum.
- C.He privatized state industries.
- D.He dissolved the bureau of the Communist Party.
Imam Mustafayev helped introduce a new paragraph to the constitution declaring Azerbaijani the official language of the Azerbaijan SSR.
Source: political career section
16.Why was the constitutional change regarding the Azerbaijani language not agreed upon with Moscow?
- A.Because of fears of it being refused by Moscowcorrect
- B.Because the party committee was already dissolved
- C.Because it was a secret Soviet policy
- D.Because Mirza Ibrahimov opposed the consultation
The change was not agreed upon with Moscow due to fears that the request would be refused.
Source: political career section
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