On April 19, 2022, prominent scientist, honored scientist of the Republic of Azerbaijan, doctor of chemical sciences, professor Sirajaddin Vali oghlu Sarkarov died at the age of 88. Losing a well-known high-level intellectual in our country and beyond is a great loss not only for our Institute, but also for the scientific community of Azerbaijan.

S.V.Sarkarov was born on December 28, 1934 in Yukhari Tahirjal village of Gusar district in the northern region of our republic. Having successfully completed secondary education in this village in 1952, S.V.Sarkarov entered the pharmacy faculty of the Azerbaijan State Medical Institute in the same year and graduated from this educational institution in 1957 with good results. In 1961, he entered the post-graduate course (now doctoral course) of the Institute of Botany, and during his studies he was assigned to the "Chemistry of Natural Compounds" laboratory of the Institute of Botany located in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) of the AS of the USSR.

S.V.Sarkarov, who started working as a graduate student in the Department of Plant Resources of the Institute of Botany of ANAS, worked in various positions in that department for nearly 60 years (1964-2022), and from 2004 until the end of his life as a senior researcher. During his many years of work at the Institute of Botany, he was always chosen for his business acumen, principled position and generosity. His ability to constantly work on himself, his scientific search, gave him the impetus to deeply master the rare field he was engaged in, such as the study of the chemistry of herbal substances.

S.Sarkarov also approached personnel training with great responsibility. Under the scientific guidance of the scientist, 10 doctors of philosophy and 1 doctor of sciences were prepared. The work of 2 PhD candidates is about to be defended. His very serious and principled stance on personnel training has echoed beyond the borders of the republic.In this regard, it was no coincidence that S.V. Sarkarov once received an official invitation from that republic to participate in the preparation of scientific and scientific-pedagogical personnel in the fields of chemistry, pharmacology, and medicine through master's, PhD, and doctoral degrees in the Republic of Kazakhstan as the scientific supervisor of future applicants.

S.V. Sarkarov's useful and impeccable work style did not escape the attention of the republic's leader and he was awarded the honorary title of Honored Scientist. He was also awarded the Labor veteran's medal and multiple Honorary Orders of the ANAS Presidium. Also, in 2015, at the international conference on "Achievements and Development Prospects of Phytochemistry" held in the city of Karaganda, Republic of Kazakhstan, S.V. Sarkarov was ceremoniously awarded with the "Insignia for Services in the Development of Science" of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the occasion of his 80th anniversary, and he was presented with the national costume of Kazakhstan.

If he had lived, he would have created more... Unfortunately, the night of April 19, 2022 was the night of his farewell to this world. The scientist passed away after a long illness and entered eternity. May God have mercy on him.

We, the numerous employees of ANAS Institute of Botany, have always been very proud and honored to be the contemporaries of Professor Sirajaddin Sarkarov, who tirelessly went through a difficult and honorable path for the sake of the progress of science and created a rich scientific base with more than half a century of history.

Although many years have passed, Professor Sirajaddin Sarkarov, a talented scientist who gained a deep respect for himself with his personality and intelligence, a caring pedagogue, and a prudent and discreet person, doctor of chemical sciences professor Sirajaddin Sarkarov, will never be forgotten, he will live in memories, and we are sure that with the traces he left in science, there will be many more -how many discoveries will be found.

General director of the Institute of Botany of ANAS,

Doctor of biological sciences, professor S.C. Ibadullayeva

scientific secretary of the Institute of Botany of ANAS,

PhD in biology, associate professor Kh.C. Khalilova