Founders
Kiamal Zulfizade
(born on 20 December 1963 in the village of Zardab, Lerik district, Azerbaijan
SSR, country of residence - Lithuania)
One of the three founders of the International Talysh Foundation and since 2017 the founder and
managing director of the Talysh National Academy (TNA). In 1986 he graduated from Moscow
V.P. Goriachkin Institute of Agricultural Engineering (currently - Moscow State V.P. Goriachkin
Agrarian University). In 1988 he emigrated to Lithuania. From 2011 to 2018 he was the head of
public organizations "Talysh" and "Azeri". From 2011 to 2020 he headed the Association of
Farmers of Šalčininkai District. In 2014-2018, he was a member of the Board of the Lithuanian
Chamber of Agriculture. Since 2016 he has became one of the leaders of TNA. He was a private
philanthropist before establishing the International Talysh Foundation and, in addition to TNA,
supported the publishing of newspapers and books in the Talysh language, as well as the
translation of cartoons into Talysh.
Ali Agayev
(born on 25 June 1963 in Gyzlyv (officially Gyzlavar) village, Masally district,
Azerbaijan SSR, country of residence - Sweden)
One of the three founders of the International Talysh Foundation and the founder of the Talysh
Internet channel Zizə TV. In 1986 he graduated from Azerbaijan V.I. Lenin Pedagogical Institute
(currently - Baku Slavic University). From 1986 to 2004 he was engaged in pedagogical
activities. From 1992 to 1993 he worked in the executive authority of the Masally district of
Azerbaijan. In 2001 he graduated from the Institute of Educational Problems of the Republic of
Azerbaijan (currently - the Institute of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan) with a Master's
degree. In 2004 he emigrated to Sweden but continues to participate in the social and political
life of Azerbaijan. In 2006 he ran for the Parliament of Azerbaijan. Since 2019, he has been
managing a company in the construction sector. Before establishing the International Talysh
Foundation, he was a private patron of the arts and supported the publication of various books in
the Talysh language (notably, with his direct involvement, “Akhbarname”, “Avesta” and Jean-
Jacques de Morgan's collection of books published in Talysh).
Boris Talyshinsky
(born on 01 April 1968 in the village of Piyas (officially Pirasora), Lerik
district, Azerbaijan SSR, country of residence - Germany)
One of the three founders of the International Talysh Foundation and the founder of the
International Talysh Minority Rights Organization (TIMRO). In 1994 he graduated from
Moscow Automobile and Road Institute (currently - Moscow State University of Automobile
and Road Technology). In the 1990s, he worked as a manager in various sectors of the Russian
economy. In 2001, he emigrated to Germany. Since 2005 he has been the manager of a company
in the car repair and service sector. From 27 December 2019 until 7 August 2021 he was the
Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the government-in-exile of the Talysh-Mughan
Autonomous Republic, from 15 February 2021 to 7 August 2021 - Vice President, and from 7
August 2021 he became the second President of the Talysh-Mughan Autonomous Republic.
Before establishing the International Talysh Foundation, he was a private philanthropist and
supported various Talysh education projects.