Azad Humbatov

Azad Arif oglu Humbatov (; January 24, 1996 – October 27, 2020) was a senior lieutenant of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, a participant of the Second Karabakh War and Hero of the Patriotic War.

Biography Azad Humbatov was born on January 24, 1996, in Baku. He was originally from the village of Ashagi Shorzha. He graduated from Baku City Ecology Lyceum No. 291 in the Nərimanov raion. In 2013, he was admitted to the tank unit specialization at the Azerbaijan Higher Military Academy named after Heydar Aliyev and graduated in 2017 with the rank of lieutenant. That same year, he was assigned to his post at a military unit in the city of Horadiz, Fuzuli district.

In 2018, during the military event held on the occasion of the "100th anniversary of the Azerbaijani Army," he served as the standard-bearer in the front row. Following this, he was awarded the "100th Anniversary of the Azerbaijani Army (1918–2018)" jubilee medal. As a tank platoon commander, he risked his life to capture five enemy tanks and bring them to his positions. He also repeatedly managed to rescue his wounded comrades from enemy encirclement.

During the battles, he was reassigned from commanding a tank unit to leading an infantry combat unit where he was needed. He was also posthumously awarded the For the Fatherland Medal on December 15, 2020, for "his participation in combat operations ensuring the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and for honorably fulfilling his military duties during the execution of assigned tasks". Additionally, on December 25, 2020, he was awarded the For the Liberation of Fuzuli Medal and the For the Liberation of Khojavend Medal.

Legacy In 2021, the 291st Ecology Lyceum in Baku was named after Azad Humbatov. In December 2021, a central street in Baku was also named in his honor.

Personal belongings of Azad Humbatov were handed over by his family to the Second Karabakh War fund of the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan.

Awards

Azerbaijani Army 100th Anniversary Medal (2018) Hero of the Patriotic War (9 December 2020) For the Fatherland Medal (15 December 2020) For the Liberation of Fuzuli Medal (25 December 2020) For the Liberation of Khojavend Medal (25 December 2020)