Death and state funeral of Heydar Aliyev

Heydar Aliyev, the former President of Azerbaijan, died on 12 December 2003 in the Cleveland Clinic (United States) at 10 am local time from heart failure[1] at the age of 80. December 13, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on the establishment of the State Commission for the funeral of Heydar Aliyev.[2] December 14 the coffin of the deceased was taken to Baku.[3]

Ilham Aliyev with Vladimir Putin during the funeral.

Death and state funeral of Heydar Aliyev

The coffin with the body of Heydar Aliyev Palace of the Republic
Date	15 December 2003
Location	Baku, Azerbaijan
Burial	Alley of Honor

The farewell ceremony was held December 15, 2003 at the Palace of the Republic (nowadays Heydar Aliyev Palace) and was broadcast live on the main Azerbaijani TV channels. The ceremony was attended by past and present Azerbaijani politicians and a plethora of international dignitaries, which included the following:

• The Secretary General of CIS, Vladimir Rushallo
• The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev
• The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin
• The President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev
• The President of Kyrgyzstan, Askar Akayev
• The President of Georgia, Eduard Shevardnadze
• The President of Ukraine, Leonid Kuchma
• The President of Turkey, Ahmet Necdet Sezer

A number of Heads of State also expressed their condolences. Heydar Aliyev was buried in the Alley of Honor next to his wife Zarifa Aliyeva. During the funerals artillery salute was given.[4][5]