Murad Mirzayev

Murad Mirzayev
Murad Mirzayev
Native name	Murad Mirzəyev
Born	31 March 1976; Muğan Gəncəli, Sabirabad District, Azerbaijan SSR
Died	3 April 2016 (aged 40); near Talysh village, Nagorno Karabakh
Allegiance	Azerbaijan
Service/branch	Special Forces of Azerbaijan
Years of service	1998–2016
Rank	Lieutenant colonel
Battles/wars	2016 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes
Awards	National Hero of Azerbaijan,; “For Faultless Service” medal (3rd and 2nd degrees),; "For distinction in military service" medal (3rd and 2nd degrees),; The tenth Anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Azerbaijani Republic 1991–2001" medal,; "The 90th Anniversary of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan 1918–2008" medal,; "The 95th Anniversary of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan 1918–2013" medal.

Murad Mirzayev (Azerbaijani: Murad Mirzəyev, 31 March 1976 – 3 April 2016) was an Azerbaijani officer, lieutenant colonel of Special Forces of Azerbaijan, National Hero of Azerbaijan.

Biography

Murad Mirzayev was born on 31 March 1976 in Muğan Gəncəli village of Sabirabad District of Azerbaijan SSR. He studied in Jamshid Nakhchivanski Military Lyceum.^[3] In 1998 Mirzayev graduated from the High Military Academy in Turkey.^[4] Further he took part in military exercises in US, Romania and Jordan.^[5]

On the night from 1 to 2 April 2016 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes took place along the line of contact in Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding territories to the south. On 5 April, a mutual ceasefire agreement was reached. Lieutenant colonel Murad Mirzayev died on 3 April during the battles near Talysh village.^[5]^[2]

On 10 April the body of Murad Mirzayev with the mediation of the International Committee of the Red Cross was handed over to the Azerbaijani side. On 11 April, he was buried in II Alley of Honor in Baku. A three-volley salute was performed and national anthem of Azerbaijan was played during the funerals.^[6]

On 19 April 2016 Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed orders on awarding honorary titles, orders and medals to a group of Azerbaijani military servicemen who "have distinguished exceptional bravery and heroism while preventing the Armenian military provocations on the contact line of troops and repelling the enemy's attacks on civilians from April 2 to 5".^[7] Murad Mirzayev was awarded the medal of National Hero of Azerbaijan.^[5]

He was survived by his wife, Fizza Mirzayeva, and two children, son Eldar and daughter Deniz.^[4]