Abulfaz Elchibey

Abulfaz Elchibey was elected President of Azerbaijan in a democratic election, winning 59.4% of the vote. He was a nationalist leader of the Azerbaijani Popular Front and promised to pursue independence from Russian influence and resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Elchibey pursued a pro-Western foreign policy, seeking closer ties with Turkey and the United States while distancing Azerbaijan from Russia. He signed agreements on energy cooperation and military aid, but this policy alienated Moscow and contributed to internal instability.

During Elchibey's presidency, Armenian forces captured the city of Agdam and other territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh. These military defeats weakened his government and contributed to his overthrow, as he was unable to protect Azerbaijani territorial integrity.

Elchibey was overthrown in a military coup led by Colonel Surat Huseynov, who marched on Baku with his forces. The coup was triggered by military defeats in Nagorno-Karabakh and political instability, forcing Elchibey to flee to his home region of Nakhchivan.