Profile
Peace activist and conflictologist active in Azerbaijan's democratic movement since 1988. Co-chair of the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly (HCA) International (2000–2012) and chair of the Azerbaijan National Committee of HCA since 1992. Recipient of the Olof Palme Peace Prize (1993), the US–EU Marshall Prize for Democracy Building (1998), and the Netherlands Helsinki Committee Civil Society Award (2015).
Education
New College, Oxford
Harvard Kennedy School & Hunt Alternatives, Boston
Institute of History, Academy of Science of Azerbaijan & Moscow Institute of Oriental Studies
Baku State University
Employment
Coordinating HCA network; developing international relations; managing joint projects with member organisations; promoting HCA as an associate member INGO of the Council of Europe; establishing the Middle East and Central Asia Citizens' Assembly.
Leading the Baku office; coordinating peacebuilding, human rights, election monitoring, refugee assistance, intercultural dialogue, and women's participation initiatives across the South Caucasus and beyond.
Organised the Coordinating Council for human rights commissions across political parties.
Established the Commission for Refugees and Ethnic Minorities' Rights.
Research on the city systems of the Medieval Middle East.
Awards
Signed by Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, and Jack Santer.
Netherlands Helsinki Committee, for HR and peace activity.
Languages
Azerbaijani, English, Russian, Turkish, Farsi (reading)