AZERBAIJAN. Baku. 2003. Funeral of former Azeri President Heidar Aliev (Gaidar, Geydar).
Aliev ruled oil rich Azerbaijan for more then three decades, as a Communist leader, later as a President. After several months in a US hospital he died 12.12.2003.
In a strongly contested election in 10-2003 his son Ilhan Aliev took over as a President. Alievs totalitarian regime and cult of personality, though pro-Western, has been strongly criticised. The funeral ceremony was going on for several days, the country literally coming to a standstill.