LEADERSHIP

Born in 1980 in Baku Sahil Babayev graduated from Baku State University in the field of International Law and International Relations with a bachelor’s degree (2000), a master’s degree with honors (2002), and a PhD in Law (2010). He is fluent in English, Russian and Turkish languages and has a good command of French. 

From 1999 to 2006, Mr. Babayev worked as a senior specialist and subsequently as the Head of the Foreign Investments Department at the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR). During this tenure, he participated in the drafting of Production Sharing Agreements, the Shah Deniz natural gas sales agreements, as well as Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline midstream contracts.

From 2006 to 2009 he served as an Assistant to the Deputy Chairman of the Milli Mejlis (The Parliament) of the Republic of Azerbaijan and was the coordinator of the EU-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee and the Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Environment.

From 2009, Mr. Babayev worked as the Head of the Foreign Investments and Aid Coordination Department of the Ministry of Economic Development and from 2011 as the Head of the Department for Cooperation with International Organizations.

At the same time, he was the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Tamiz Shahar (Clean City) JSC [3] in 2009-2014, co-chaired the EU-Azerbaijan sub-committee on trade and economy, headed the Program Management Unit for European Union Assistance Instruments, and was a member of the Board of Directors of SOCAR Turkey Aegean Oil Refinery project.

Mr. Babayev is the substitute teacher of the International Law Department of Baku State University, a lecturer on various topics at the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy, participated in various trainings and courses in the field of international law and contract law in England, France and other countries. He is the author of dissertations and monographs on international oil agreements, Production Sharing Agreements, international and national legal regulation, international legal process, and international court procedures.

On March 13, 2014, Mr. Babayev was appointed Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry by the Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and was re-appointed to the same role on January 30, 2016. During this period, among other activities, he was a curator of foreign economic policy and trade missions, Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO), the Coordinating Council on Transit Freight, the representative of the Ministry of Economy in the Southern Gas Corridor project, the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of AzerGold CJSC, a member of the Supervisory Board of International Bank of Azerbaijan as well as the Board of Directors of SOCAR Turkey Aegean Oil Refining Complex (the STAR project).

By the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, dated April 21, 2018, he was appointed Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Azerbaijan and served in this position until February 6, 2025.

By the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, dated February 6, 2025, Sahil Babayev has been appointed Minister of Finance of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

He was a co-chairman of the Intergovernmental Commissions with Germany, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Argentina and Brazil, co-chairman of the Azerbaijan-Iran Working Group on Financing the Resht-Astara Section of the North-South Corridor, and member of intergovernmental commissions with 19 countries.

In addition, Mr. Babayev heads intergovernmental commissions with Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro, and Romania.

Since February 9, 2022, he has been President of the Azerbaijan Boxing Federation.

Mr. Babayev is a member of the New Azerbaijan Party and a reserve officer.

He is married with three children.

Natig Hasanov was born in 1979. Graduated from the State and Municipal Governance Faculty of the State Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Earned his master’s degree at Azerbaijan State University of Economics. Currently, a Ph.D. student at the Scientific Research Institute of Economic Reforms. In 2001, he went to work in private sector and held various positions in several companies and organizations from 2001 to 2008.
In 2008-2011, he was an advisor on the state regulation of business activity sector of business development department of the Ministry of Economy. In 2011-2012, headed the Sector of non-oil development of the economic policy, analysis and forecasting Department of the Ministry of Economy. In 2012-2018, worked as Deputy Head of the Interstate Economic Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Economy. In 2018-2025, worked as the First Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan. He served as the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Azerbaijan from March 10, 2025 to January 8, 2026.
By the Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated January 8, 2026, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Finance. Participated in various trainings, workshops and courses abroad, and was involved in the organization and hosting of a number of international conferences in Azerbaijan. In 2019 he was awarded with "Taraqqi" medal by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Since April 22, 2026, he has served as Vice President of the Azerbaijan Boxing Federation.
Speaks English and Russian.

Married and has three children.

Vaqif Kazimov was born on May 20, 1953, in Baku. In 1970, he graduated from Secondary School No. 190 in Baku, and in 1972, he enrolled at the Azerbaijan State Institute of Physical Education. He graduated from the institute in 1979 with a degree in coaching and physical education.

Since 1968, V. Kazimov had been involved in boxing under the guidance of Rafiq Imanov, and later trained under Tofig Babanli. Throughout his athletic career, he became a multiple winner and medalist of Azerbaijan championships and national tournaments, as well as All-Union boxing competitions. In recognition of his achievements in boxing, he was awarded the honorary title of Master of Sports of the USSR in 1981 (17.02.1981, No. 172523).

After graduating from university, he began his coaching career. In 1976, he worked at the Reserve Labor Forces Club of the Baku Soviet, from 1978 to 1980 at the Baku Youth Sports School, and from 1981 to 1995 as a boxing coach-teacher at the “Mahsul” Voluntary Sports Society.

In 1995, V. Kazimov was invited by the Turkish Boxing Federation to join the national team coaching staff, where he worked as a coach for the Turkish national boxing team until 2001.

After returning to Azerbaijan in 2002, he continued his professional activity in the Sports Department of the State Customs Committee.

Throughout his career, Vaqif Kazimov has trained hundreds of athletes and dozens of Masters of Sports. In recognition of his contribution to Azerbaijani sports, he was awarded the honorary title of “Honored Coach of the Republic of Azerbaijan” in 2003 (Certificate No. 0010, Protocol 8 b.1), and in 2011 he received the title of “Honored Physical Culture and Sports Figure of the Republic of Azerbaijan” (19.12.2011). He was also awarded the “Taraggi” Medal (04.09.2004) and, on March 5, 2008, by Presidential decree, was granted the Individual Scholarship of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Among his most distinguished students is Agasi Mammadov, who became a World and European Boxing Champion and won the bronze medal at the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games.

Since April 9, 2022, Vaqif Kazimov has served as Head Coach of Azerbaijan’s junior national boxing team and Chairman of the Coaches Committee of the Azerbaijan Boxing Federation.

On April 22, 2026, he was elected Vice President of the Azerbaijan Boxing Federation.

Fuad Hajiyev was born on January 27, 1962, in the village of Dash Salahli, Gazakh district. In 1979, he graduated from Secondary School No. 1 in his village. In 1984, he graduated with honors from the Odessa Institute of Food Industry Technology named after M.V. Lomonosov, specializing as an engineer-technologist. In 1994, he obtained higher political education, graduating with honors from the Baku Institute of Social Management and Political Science (currently the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan), specializing in political science.

During his athletic career, he earned a green belt in karate and became a prize winner of the USSR Karate Championships. He also achieved a number of successes in freestyle wrestling.

After completing his higher education, he worked in production as an engineer-technologist, later holding responsible positions at the Central Committee of the Azerbaijan Komsomol and, during the years of independence, at the State Customs Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In the 1990s, he was engaged in commercial and entrepreneurial activities. From 2006 to 2015, he served as Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

During his tenure as Chief of Staff, he contributed to the organization of a number of prestigious sporting events held in Baku, particularly the European Games.

By the Order dated December 23, 2015, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev appointed Fuad Haji oghlu Hajiyev as Rector of the Azerbaijan State Academy of Physical Education and Sport. He is also a member of the Board of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and a member of the National Olympic Committee. In 2021, he was elected a member of the jury of the European Fair Play Movement.

Fuad Hajiyev has made significant contributions to youth policy, physical education, and the development of sports in Azerbaijan. In recognition of these achievements, by the Order dated March 2, 2015, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev awarded him the 3rd Degree “For Service to the Fatherland” Order for his effective work with youth and his contributions to the development of physical education and sports. By another Order dated February 11, 2021, President Ilham Aliyev awarded him the “Shohrat” Order on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Azerbaijan State Academy of Physical Education and Sport for his services in training specialists in the field of physical education and sports in Azerbaijan.

Since February 2022, he has been a member of the Executive Board of the Azerbaijan Boxing Federation.

He is married and has two children.

Rovshan Huseynov was born on December 17, 1975, in the Goycha region.

In September 1993, he won the gold medal at the European Championships held in Bursa, Türkiye, becoming the first Azerbaijani boxer in history to claim a continental title. Just 20 days later, under the guidance of his coach Rauf Jabbarov, Huseynov also secured gold at the European Junior Championships in Thessaloniki, Greece, where he was named the tournament’s most technical boxer.

In 1994, he won all of his bouts at the World Cup in Thailand, becoming the first Azerbaijani boxer to win a gold medal at that competition as well. Throughout his career, he represented Azerbaijan at World and European Championships, as well as at the Summer Olympic Games.

Huseynov was a three-time champion of the former USSR and won multiple Azerbaijani national titles.

After retiring from boxing, he began a career as a referee and earned international referee status in 2008. He officiated final bouts at European and World Championships, as well as at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

By the decree No. 292 signed by President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev on March 5, 1995, Rovshan Huseynov was awarded the “Tereggi” Medal for his contributions to Azerbaijani sports.

From 2004 to 2022, he served as Vice President of the Azerbaijan Boxing Federation (ABF). Since February 2022, he has been a member of the ABF Executive Board.

He is married and has three children.

Naghi Safarov was born in 1976 in Ganja. From 1994 to 2000, he studied at the Azerbaijan Technological University, earning both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Management. Between 2021 and 2023, he completed a Master’s degree in Sports Management at the Azerbaijan Sports Academy.

From 2002 to 2004, he participated in management training programs organized by international organizations and worked as an expert at the Council of Europe Youth Centre.

Between 2004 and 2023, he held various positions within the Azerbaijan Taekwondo Federation. From 2012 to 2023, he served as Vice President of the federation.

Since 2010, he has been serving as Secretary General of the Azerbaijan Boxing Federation. He headed the Organizing Committee of the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships held in Baku in 2010 and the AIBA World Boxing Championships held in Baku in 2011. From 2011 to 2017, he was a member of committees within the International Boxing Association (AIBA).

In addition, he has worked as an advisor to the Organizing Committees of numerous major multi-sport events held both in Azerbaijan and internationally, including World and European Championships, Olympic Qualification Tournaments, the European Games, and the Islamic Solidarity Games.

He is the author of the manifesto “The Place of Boxing in the Olympic Family,” the “100-Day Action Plan for Boxing and the Olympic Movement,” and several other international projects.

He also prepared a methodological guide on the organization of boxing training sessions in Azerbaijan.