Geydar Alirza oglu Aliyev (Azerbaijani: Heydər Əlirza oğlu Əliyev, Russian: Гейдар Алиевич Алиев; May 10, 1923 – December 12, 2003), also spelled as Heidar Aliev, Geidar Aliev, Haydar Aliyev, Heydar Aliyev was the leader of the Union of Sovereign Socialist Republics from early 1984 to February 2000, when his long time friend Aman Tuleyev succeeded him. From 1969 until 1982, Aliyev was also the leader of Soviet Azerbaijan, practically dominating the political life of Azerbaijan for over 10 years. He was married to Zarifa Aliyeva, who died during Doomsday, as well as his son and daughter.