Ex-Interior Minister of Azerbaijan: Heydar Aliyev was at the head of rebellion by Surat Huseynov
Former Interior Minister of Azerbaijan Iskender Hamidov, made a statement on the events that took place on June 4, in 1993. In an interview with "Moderator.az" he accused the Colonel Surat Huseynov the KGB General Heydar Aliyev of holding a rebellion, as a result of which the latter came to power in Azerbaijan.
According to the Azerbaijani portal "Haqqin.az" the former Minister of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan, stated, "The events of June 4 were a true rebellion, and it was directed against the legitimate government. At the head of the rebellion was Heydar Aliyev. If it was not a rebellion, why did S. Huseynov take public officials as hostage? All of these events have been planned. "
Note that Surat Huseynov, who was a director of primary wool processing factory in Yevlakh, since beginning of the Karabakh conflict, started forming militias, who went to war against the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh. On July 2, in 1992 Huseynov was appointed the deputy prime minister and the plenipotentiary of the President of Azerbaijan about Karabakh. In September 1992, he was awarded the title of "National Hero of Azerbaijan" "for his military achievements in Karabakh.” In February 1993, after the defeat of Azerbaijani troops at the front, Huseynov was dismissed of his position by the Special Representative of President of Azerbaijan.
On June 4, in 1993 the Azerbaijani authorities attempted to disarm Huseynov’s troops that were stationed in Ganja, however, they didn’t manage this, and on June 10 his units began to move to Baku. Azerbaijani President A. Elchibay invited Huseynov together with the former general of KGB Heydar Aliyev for talks. Negotiations were unsuccessful, on June 10, Isa Gambar, resigned from his position of chairman of the parliament, and on 15 June, the parliament elected Aliyev as a President. On June 15, in 1993 the Parliament of Azerbaijan elected Heydar Aliyev as a chairman. Since 1998, this day is celebrated in Azerbaijan as a "day of national salvation", despite the fact that after Heydar Aliyev’s taking the office, the Azerbaijani army was knocked out of 6 districts.
On June 18, at night, President of Azerbaijan A. Elchibay left Baku and was deported to Nakhichevan. Heydar Aliyev appointed rebel colonel S. Huseynov as a prime minister. On June 25, the Azerbaijani parliament voted to strip Elchibay of his presidential powers and to appoint Heydar Aliyev, the Speaker of the parliament, as a president.
After the end of hostilities in Karabakh, in October 1994, a detachment of special police of Azerbaijani Interior Ministry started a mutiny, which was suppressed by governmental troops. Heydar Aliyev accused Surat Huseynov of holding negotiation; the latter rejected the allegations and fled to Russia. In 1997, the Russian Federation gave Huseynov to Azerbaijan, who was sentenced to life imprisonment at home. On March 17, in 2004 Surat Huseynov was pardoned and released.
Iskander Hamidov served as Minister of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan in the period from 26 May in 1992 to 16 April 1993. On March 17, in 1995 after the suppression of the rebellion Hamidov was arrested. Former interior minister was accused of embezzlement of public funds in the amount of $ 400 thousand, as well as aiding the escape of the criminal N701 from the police custody and of the abuse of his duties. Court sentenced Hamidov to 14 years imprisonment with confiscation of property. The Council of Europe and Amnesty International considered him a political prisoner. He was released being sentenced for 9-years in accordance with the decree of pardon from December 30, in 2003.