The expatriated former president of Azerbaijan, Ayaz Mutalibov, has expressed willingness to return to his homeland, the Russian newspaper Vzglyad reported.


His return has become possible following a recent legislative reform granting immunity to the country’s former leaders and their families.

“The law on former presidents has made me and my family happy as that has put an end to my life as an emigrant and allowed me to return to my home country,” Mutalibov has said.

He praised the incumbent president, Heydar Aliyev, for ensuring the reform.

The law passed the Azerbaijani parliament’s second reading on Friday.

Mutalibov was the president of Azerbaijan in 1991-92. He was accused of crimes committed in the period of his reign, and he resided in Russia in the past years.