Mustafa Mahmudov

Mustafa Mahmudov was an Azerbaijani political leader who was instrumental in the nation's independence movement in the early 1900s. He served as a member of parliament for the second Russian State Duma in 1907 and was Deputy Secretary of the Azerbaijani National Council at its initiation in 1918. Mahmudov also was a member of Azerbaijan's Commission on Agriculture. He represented the Musavat political party.

Early life and education He was born on 31 January 1878, in Kürdəmir village of Baku Governorate into a peasant family. He received primary education in Kürdəmir and Göyçay, finally enrolling at prestigious Transcaucasian Teachers Seminary, graduating from it in 1899.

Career He started his career as a teacher, first working as a school instructor in Vəndam, then moving on to Baku city, working at several schools. Losing his elder brother in 1903, he was forced to look after his children too. He switched to politics in 1907 when he was elected to Second Duma of Russian Empire representing the Baku Governorate from the CDP. An activist for abolition of drumhead courts-martial in Russian Empire, he accused Minister of Education, Piotr von Kauffman of neglecting empire's Muslim citizens' education, treating them like a caste. He continued teaching career through 1929 and 1934 until his death. He was executed on 20 December 1937 during Great Purge.