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Mammed Yusif DjafarovAzerbaijani political and statesman
Date of Birth: 14.03.1885
Country:  Azerbaijan |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Political Career
- Revolutionary Era
- Establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
- Minister of Trade and Industry and Foreign Minister
- First Deputy Speaker of Parliament
- Post-ADR Career and Death
Early Life and Education
Mahammad Yusuf Jafarov was born on March 14, 1885, in Baku, Azerbaijan. He graduated from Baku Alexandrovskaya Gymnasium in 1907 and went on to study law at Moscow University. During his studies, he maintained ties with Azerbaijani students and actively participated in social events. Jafarov graduated with honors in 1912 and returned to Baku, where he worked as an assistant to a public prosecutor.
Political Career
Member of the Fourth State DumaJafarov earned respect in the Baku, Elizavetpol, and Erivan provinces and became a deputy in the Fourth State Duma. He was the only Muslim deputy from the South Caucasus. Jafarov joined the Muslim Faction and the Cadet Faction. In his speeches, he highlighted the government's indifference to the education of Muslims in the South Caucasus, the restrictions on their rights, and the conversion of mosques into barracks.
Revolutionary Era
Jafarov welcomed the February Revolution. He was elected to the All-Russian Constituent Assembly from the Transcaucasus electoral district on the list of the Muslim National Committee and Musavat. In the Special Transcaucasian Committee, Jafarov oversaw industry and trade. At the Congress of Muslims of the Caucasus in April 1917, he advocated for Muslim unity. On November 15, 1917, Jafarov became the Commissioner of Industry and Trade of the Transcaucasian Commissariat.
Establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
On May 27, 1918, the Extraordinary Congress of the Muslim Faction established the Provisional National Council, led by Mahammad Emin Rasulzade. Jafarov was elected to the Executive Committee of the Council. The Declaration of Independence of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was signed the following day, with Jafarov among the signatories.
Minister of Trade and Industry and Foreign Minister
In the first cabinet, Jafarov served as Minister of Trade and Industry. After the resignation of the first cabinet, he became the ambassador of the ADR to Georgia, where he played a significant role in establishing diplomatic relations between the ADR and GDR. On March 14, 1919, Prime Minister Nasib-bek Usubbekov appointed Jafarov as Minister of Foreign Affairs. As head of Azerbaijan's foreign policy, Jafarov signed a military cooperation agreement with Georgia and sent notes to British military headquarters in the South Caucasus. He also established a commission to collect documents on the Tsarist government's policy in the South Caucasus.
First Deputy Speaker of Parliament
On February 2, 1920, upon Rasulzade's proposal, Jafarov became the Senior Comrade (First Deputy Speaker) of the Parliament of the ADR. He served in this role until Azerbaijan's annexation by Soviet Russia. On April 27, after intense discussions, Jafarov signed the decision to transfer power to the Temporary Revolutionary Committee of Azerbaijan.
Post-ADR Career and Death
After the fall of the ADR, Jafarov worked as a legal consultant for cotton and wine trusts. He died in Baku on May 15, 1938.
