Osman Mirzayev

Osman Mirzayev (Azerbaijani: Osman Mirzəyev Mirzahuseyn oğlu, April 13, 1937 – November 20, 1991) was a celebrated journalist, writer and publicist in Soviet Azerbaijan, then part of the USSR.

Osman Mirzayev is widely regarded as one of the great pioneers of independent journalism in Azerbaijan. He came to prominence as presenter of Dalga (Wave), Azerbaijan’s first political TV programme, and through his investigative articles about political repression and persecution in the Soviet Azerbaijan and books We Only Live Once, Eagle in Flight, Drop and Lake and many other writings. Mirzayev’s book Adlarimiz (Our Names) reviews the origins and meanings of the most popular first names in Azerbaijan.

After the country regained its independence in 1991, he rose to the position of Presidential Spokesman and Head of the Information Department of the Presidential Administration of the Azerbaijan Republic.

Osman Mirzayev was killed on 20 November 1991 in a helicopter shot down by Armenian forces over Azerbaijan's Nagorno Karabakh. He was part of a 22 person international mission to investigate attacks in the region. There were no survivors of the crash. He left a wife and three daughters, all engaged in journalism. Osman Mirzayev is buried at the Alley of Honor in Baku. There are streets and schools named after Osman Mirzayev in Azerbaijan.