July 15 marks the birthday of Khudayar Yusifzada, a martyr of the Patriotic War who captured hearts with his rendition of the song “Vatan Yaxshidir” (The Motherland is Good).
According to sea-news.az that our martyr was born in Barda in 1998.
Between 2004 and 2015, X. Yusifzada studied at the Bulbul Children’s School of Art No. 1 in Barda. From 2016 to 2018, he completed his mandatory military service in a military unit of the State Security Service. Later, he served as an extended-duty serviceman in the ranks of the Border Troops of the State Border Service, earning the military rank of gizir (warrant officer).
Following the martyrdom of Major General Polad Hashimov during the 2020 Tovuz battles, he voluntarily applied to the Barda District Military Commissariat.
During the Patriotic War, which began on September 27, 2020, to liberate Azerbaijani territories under Armenian occupation and restore the country’s territorial integrity, Border Troops warrant officer Khudayar Yusifzada first served at a border post in the Fuzuli district. He later fought in the battles for the liberation of Jabrayil and Zangilan. Khudayar Yusifzada became a martyr on October 22, 2020, in the direction of Aghband during the Zangilan battles.
He was laid to rest in the Alley of Martyrs in Barda.
For his honorable fulfillment of duties while participating in combat operations to ensure the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, Khudayar Yusifzada was posthumously awarded the “For the Motherland” and “For the Liberation of Zangilan” medals, as well as the “Azerbaijan Flag” Order, by decrees of the President of Azerbaijan and Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev.
On February 18, 2021, an unveiling ceremony for his bust was held at the Bulbul Children’s School of Art No. 1 in Barda, where he had been a student.
Two days before his martyrdom, Khudayar Yusifzada performed the song “Vatan Yaxshidir,” based on a poem by Aliagha Vahid, and recorded it on his phone. The video went viral on social media shortly after. It should be noted that the music for the “Vatan Yaxshidir” tasnif was composed by Ali-Baba Mammadov, with lyrics by Aliagha Vahid. With the blessing of Ali-Baba Mammadov, the piece has been named the “Khudayar Tasnif.”
