Date 15 December 2003 Burial Alley of Honor | Location Baku, Azerbaijan | |
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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 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. December 14 the coffin of the deceased was taken to Baku.
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 current and former heads of states (Vladimir Putin, Nursultan Nazarbayev, Eduard Shevardnadze, Leonid Kuchma, Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Süleyman Demirel etc.). Also, a number of Heads of State 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.