Aslan Ashurov

{{Short description|Azeri politician (1853–1909)}}

Hajji Aslan Ashurov (b. c.1853 – c.1909) was an Azeri shipping and trading entrepreneur and politician, based in Baku. In 1903, he received a hereditary honour from Tsar Nicholas II. Aslan Ashurov was the father of Azeri politician, Agha Ashurov. His descendants today include the wife and children of Azeri politician and former National Security minister, Eldar Mahmudov.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ashurovmalikov.com/family-tree|title=FAMILY TREE|website=AshurovMalikov}}

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By 1898, the Ashurov family had become major business figures in Baku:Russian State Historical Archives, archive 20, list 2, case 1351, sheet 166a; cited p.44 in "Ashurovs: documentary history of the lineage", by Adalat Tahirzade, ISBN 978-9952-443-20-2 the Ashurov Brothers Trading Company is recorded as owning 5 steamships, 3 barques (three masted sailing ships); 5 additional sailing ships, and 8 barges. In addition, the family also owned the Ashurov & Company Power Station business. Aslan Ashurov also took advantage of the developing Azeri oil industry to advance his shipping and trading interestsReview of the Oil History of Azerbaijan, s.164, ibid p.54 across the Russian empire and beyond. Aslan Ashurov built one of the largest private houses in Baku.Historical Archives of the Republic of Azerbaijan, archive 389, list 3, case 640, sheet 1; & Historical Archives of the Republic of Azerbaijan, archive 389, list 3, case 874, sheets 1a-2.

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In 1903, Russian Tsar, Nicholas II, granted Ashurov the title of Honoured Citizen of the Russian Empire,{{Cite web|url=https://feefhs.org/index.php/resource/russia-blitz-honored-citizenship-1830|title=Honored Citizenship in the Emperor's Russia: 1830-1890 | FEEFHS|website=feefhs.org}} which was a new, hereditary social rank in the Russian empire created by Tsar Nicholas I in 1830. It was awarded to successful members of the non-noble, urban wealthy.

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Aslan Ashurov was first elected to the [https://bakucity.preslib.az/en/page/3Mxw74iOLZ Baku city Duma] in 1881;The Caucasian Calendar for 1882, Tbilisi, 1881, p.51 and re-elected in 1882;Russian State Historical Archive, archive 20, line 2, case 1351, sheet 166a 1886;The Caucasian Calendar for 1887, Tbilisi, 1887, p.41 1894;The Caucasian Calendar for 1895, Tbilisi, 1894, p.131 1897;Historical Archives of the Republic of Azerbaijan, archive 50, line 1, case 60, sheet 88 and 1902,The Caucasian Calendar for 1904, Tbilisi, 1903, p.186-187 when he was elected a member of the Pricing Committee.Baku Newspaper, 18 (31).X.1902, No.1 In the 1904 Baku city Duma election, three members of the Ashurov family were simultaneously elected to the Duma: Hajji Aslan; his brother, Ali Iskander Ashurov and cousin, Hacibaba Jabbar oglu Ashurov,Baku Desk Calendar for 1905, Baku, 1905, p.36-37 Aslan Ashurov was elected for the last time in 1907,Baku Sputnik for 1908, Baku, 1905, p.82-85. again sitting on the Pricing Committee,The Caucasian Calendar for 1908, Tbilisi, 1907, p.105 before his death in 1909.

The First Russian Revolution of 1905 saw ethic conflicts in the Caucasus, and numerous terrorist actions in Baku and Duma proceedings show that Aslan Ashurov was one of the key figures in the Baku city Duma to discuss the crisis.p.34, Leadership and Nationalism in Azerbaijan: Ali Mardan Bey Topchibashov, Founder and Creator, by Jamil Hasanli, ISBN 9780367664428 He survived an assassination attempt, in the streets of Baku, near his home.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ashurovmalikov.com/family-history|title=HISTORY|website=AshurovMalikov}}