Deputy Chingiz Aliyev : “Do What You do Best, Appreciate What You Have, be Grateful.”
Today, fortune has opened its doors to our compatriot, deputy of the Republic of Tuva, head coach of the Republic of Tuva’s national karate team, a well-known public figure, an outstanding person, a professional athlete, always dedicated to his work, loving his homeland, and having achieved success abroad — Chingiz Aliyev.
-You are a deputy of the Republic of Tuva, president of the Karate Federation of the Republic of Tuva, an international-class karate master, and the initiator and organizer of many public events held in the Russian Federation. How do you manage to combine all of this? What is the secret of your energy?
-At the beginning of our conversation, I would like to tell our readers that I live in the Republic of Tuva — one of the most extraordinary places in the world.
It is an incredibly beautiful place! It is unique in that it is, without exaggeration, a land of contrasts. Here you can see dry steppes with camels, and mountainous peaks that reach the very sky and seem to touch it. The great Yenisei River begins in Tuva, gaining strength near the republic’s capital, Kyzyl, where the waters of the Piy-Khem (Great Yenisei) and Kaa-Khem (Little Yenisei) merge. Tuva is an ancient land inhabited by kind and responsive people who deeply honor the memory of their ancestors and the traditions of their nation.
The secret is simple — I love what I do. I enjoy it.
-Chingiz, please tell us, what path and important life stages did you have to overcome before becoming a deputy? Where did you start?
You could say that at a certain point in my life, I looked back at the path I had traveled, thought about what would happen if I just went with the flow, and decided to take my own path. I decided to make a name for myself, develop in sports, and, equally important, promote sports here in Tuva. I went through almost all the stages of an athlete’s life: endless training, competing, shedding sweat and blood, and of course, waiting, hoping, and believing in success. Perhaps I did not meet the expectations of my parents, who saw me in a completely different profession, but this was my choice. And I am glad I made it and walked this path. If I had to do it all over again, I would do it without hesitation, changing nothing.
-Do you think that having high professional training and rich life experience is enough to become a successful deputy?
Without a doubt, experience and training are very important and sometimes decisive. However, as I said earlier, I love what I do. I am glad to help people and contribute to society. I am devoted to this idea and strive to work tirelessly. At the same time, I would not claim to be very experienced. I am still at the beginning of my development. I have my senior colleagues who always help me, and I can always turn to them. That is wonderful.
-Your Smile of Fortune (a lucky chance)?
-There have been many interesting moments in my life worth mentioning. But I especially highlight one of them. Many years ago, I was completely fortunate to meet a certain person — I won’t mention his name. We met and had a conversation. He opened my eyes to a whole new world. By his own example, he showed me “how it should be done.” At that moment, I realized that my life would never be the same. It was the moment when I understood what I wanted, the direction in which I wished to move and develop. Perhaps that was when Fortune smiled upon me.
-Can you share your formula for success?
-It is extremely simple: do what you do well, appreciate what you have, be grateful.
-Chingiz, as a young deputy, you defend the rights of Azerbaijanis in Tuva. What do you think is the main task of a deputy?
-I would like to immediately note that help and support (mine, or that of any other deputy or official) can be expected by everyone regardless of nationality or social status. We all — Azerbaijanis and representatives of other nationalities — have equal rights and freedoms. As for the tasks of a deputy, broadly speaking, there is one main task — to benefit the people, to be able to listen and hear them, and to make their lives better. A deputy must justify the high trust placed in him by the voters.
– What does being a deputy mean to you?
-As I have said many times before, it is an opportunity to be useful to people. As a deputy, I can positively influence public life. This experience helps me manage the Karate Federation of the Republic of Tuva more competently and allows me to help young athletes training in our organization build their sports careers.
Besides that, I see my mission as a deputy in improving the image of my people, the Azerbaijani people. Unfortunately, in Russia, there has long been a stereotype that Azerbaijanis are only market traders. There is, of course, nothing wrong with trading at markets. But are Azerbaijanis only fit for that? Many of them hold prominent positions in law enforcement agencies, government bodies, and other state institutions. They are people who have achieved success in various fields of activity.
And just look at history! Haven’t Azerbaijanis left their mark on it? We have made a significant contribution to many spheres of public life! From culture and art to scientific discoveries! Just think of the works of the well-known Javad Melikov, who back in the 19th century realized his engineering ideas and opened an oil factory in Grozny. How can we forget Farman Salmanov, the pioneering geologist who discovered more than one and a half hundred oil and gas fields in Western Siberia? These people gave a huge impetus to the development of the oil industry in a country long famous for its natural wealth! They are among those thanks to whom modern Russia is what it is today.
As a public figure, I have always actively “promoted” our culture in Russia and particularly in Tuva. I must say, it is recognized and respected here. For example, the Azerbaijani diaspora regularly takes part in official city and republican-level events. We even celebrate Novruz together with other Turkic peoples.
Several times, at the invitation of Tuvan State University, I met with students and spoke about Azerbaijani culture and the history of the Turkic peoples. Thanks to our efforts, many people here are familiar with iconic Azerbaijani figures such as Nizami Ganjavi, Imadaddin Nasimi, and Muhammad Fuzuli, as well as the “Book of Dede Gorgud” and many other literary works.
We are representatives of a people with a rich history and incredibly talented individuals! How can anyone say that all of us are just market traders? And, unfortunately, such things are said not only in Russia. There are even people in Azerbaijan who speak disparagingly about their compatriots living here. One official from Azerbaijan once made a statement implying that Azerbaijanis living in Russia are, pardon me, second-class people. Is that right? Can he really speak that way about his fellow countrymen? Or about anyone at all? Absolutely not! That is a glaring example of unprofessionalism and a lack of understanding of who he is and what he is working for. This is a case where someone, once seated in a position of power, has lost touch with reality and with the people.
I don’t know if that person will ever see this interview, but I want to state with confidence — we Azerbaijanis are respected in Russia. This is evident even at the republican level. As I mentioned earlier, the Azerbaijani diaspora actively participates in public life. The Head of Tuva, Sholban Valeryevich Kara-ool, treats our diaspora with the same respect he shows to other national communities. We all live in harmony and work hard for the benefit of the republic.
This is another aspect of my work that I would describe. I strive to break down stereotypes about our people. And speaking more broadly, I sincerely believe that cultural exchange between peoples strengthens friendship and mutual understanding. In a multinational country like Russia, this is especially relevant and of crucial importance. Thanks to the wise steps taken by the republic’s leadership in this regard, this process becomes easier — and that is truly encouraging.
– What problems do you most often face as a deputy? What do citizens most often come to you with during receptions?
– People come with all sorts of questions and problems. The range is so wide that it’s impossible to single out just one thing. I’ll just say that every issue is important. After all, everyone deserves to live in better conditions. My colleagues and I always try to help each individual. Of course, we do all of this strictly within the framework of the law.
– Do you have a favorite saying or quote?
– Of course, there are many interesting quotes I could mention here, but I’ll share the one I heard many years ago. These are the words of the Prophet Muhammad: “Paradise lies at the feet of mothers.” Aren’t they beautiful? Such simple yet profound meaning is contained in them.
– Why did you choose this particular sport?
– We all come from childhood, and I’m no exception. When I was little, movies featuring masters of Eastern martial arts became very popular. For example, films with Bruce Lee. I watched those movies and wanted to be able to do the same. Did I succeed? I think I’ve achieved a certain level of success
– Are you satisfied with your competition results? Tell us about your sports achievements and your plans for the near future.
– As I mentioned earlier, in my humble opinion, I have achieved a certain level of success. In general, this is quite a tricky question, because evaluating achievements is not easy. The thing is, one athlete may be content with one level of success, another with a different one. But in reality, neither of them may come close to what we call perfection. Because that path is endless. Speaking about myself, I can say that I’m satisfied with my performances and I don’t regret anything. I gained tremendous experience, which I can now pass on to those who come to me to learn the art of karate. As for future plans, I’ve always said that I dream of training an Olympic champion. And I won’t stop until that happens.
– Have there been any interesting incidents during training camps or competitions involving you, your team, or your coaches?
– A long time ago, at the beginning of my sports career, I would regularly travel to train with well-known masters. During one of those trips, something funny happened. In the city of Omsk, I was staying with my friend Vagif Kerimov. He was a student at the time. One morning, we woke up and started getting ready—me for training, him for class. There was no food in the house. And as an athlete, I absolutely had to eat before training. We checked our pockets and scraped together a small amount of money, after which I went to the store. The money was so little that I was only able to buy two eggs. As I approached the building entrance, looking forward to breakfast, a drunk man came up to me and asked for a cigarette. When I said no, he kicked the bag. At that moment, I heard a crack. I realized the eggs had broken. Despite this, Vagif and I filtered out the shell pieces and fried the eggs. That’s the story. As for that man, let’s just say he probably never dared ask anyone for a cigarette again. It’s been almost twenty years since that day, but Vagif and I still laugh about it to this day.
– Have you had any injuries? How did you cope with them mentally?
– In this kind of sport, injuries are inevitable. Of course, they leave a mark, as the professional athlete’s career span is short. However, belief in success and the drive to reach my goals always helped me. I never thought I might fail. There’s a universal phrase for all situations: “This too shall pass.” I knew injuries weren’t permanent, and that I’d soon be training again.
– Share the most memorable moment from your career that you are especially proud of.
– The greatest achievement, the one I’m truly proud of, is that my colleagues and I managed to build a team that successfully handles the highest-level challenges. Step by step, we are moving toward success and developing karate in the republic. That’s the most important thing. As for our students’ accomplishments, I’m equally proud of each and every one of them.
– What would you like to wish for your Homeland?
– I want to wish it prosperity and well-being. May every citizen of our country be proud of it and live happily. And in light of the recent parliamentary elections, I would also like to wish the newly elected deputies to never forget that they are servants of the people. May they work tirelessly to create comfortable living conditions for their constituents.
İnterview conducted by Saida Musaeva, Editor-in-Chief of Fortuna.
