Isa Gambar

Isa Yunis oghlu Gambar, born on February 24, 1957, is a prominent Azerbaijani politician and the leader of the Equality Party (Müsavat), a significant opposition bloc in Azerbaijan. His political journey began when he was elected to parliament in 1990, and he quickly rose to prominence, becoming the parliamentary speaker in 1992.

As a notable opposition figure, Gambar faced significant challenges during his career. He was notably blocked from contesting elections by the Azerbaijani ruler Heydar Aliyev, who stripped him of parliamentary immunity and had him arrested following Gambar's criticism of Aliyev's consolidation of power in 1993. International outcry over his arrest led to his release just weeks later.

Gambar was closely associated with Abulfaz Elchibey, the first freely elected president of independent Azerbaijan, who was ousted in a military coup in June 1993. During his tenure in parliament, Gambar collaborated with Elchibey to initiate the first steps toward implementing market reforms in Azerbaijan, marking a significant period in the country's political landscape.