Safar Abiyev

Colonel General Safar Akhundbala oglu Abiyev (Səfər Axundbala oğlu Əbiyev; born January 27, 1950, Baku) is the last Defense Minister of Azerbaijan, considered as one of the longest serving defense minister in the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Biography
General Safar Abiyev was born in Baku. He graduated in 1971 from Baku's Higher Military College, and in 1982 from the Command Faculty of the Frunze Military Academy in Moscow, and has spent his entire professional life in the armed forces. Abiyev was appointed Chief of General Staff of Azerbaijani Armed Forces and acting Minister of Defense when Minister Dadash Rzayev was relieved of his duties on June 17, 1993. He worked as acting Minister until August 1993 when Deputy Minister Vahid Musayev was assigned to lead the ministry but was soon sacked by Heydar Aliyev on August 25, 1993. Abiyev continued to serve as the Chief of General Staff until November 2, 1993 when the post was taken by Najmaddin Sadigov. Abiyev was reinstated as Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan on February 6, 1995 effectively replacing Mammadrafi Mammadov.

Awards
Abiyev has been awarded with Shohrat Order on January 26, 2010.