Heydar Alirza oglu Aliyev or Geidar Aliev (, ; 10 May 1923 – 12 December 2003), also spelled Haydar Aliev or Geidar Aliev was the third President of Azerbaijan for the New Azerbaijan Party from October 1993 to October 2003, when his son Ilham Aliyev succeeded him. From 1969 to 1982, Aliyev was also the leader of Soviet Azerbaijan, effectively dominating the political life of Azerbaijan for many years. His personality cult has developed in Azerbaijan following his death.