Posthumous Medal for Zarifa Alizade for Work in the Diaspora

Pianist and professor Zarifa Alizade has been posthumously awarded the medal of the Republic of Azerbaijan “For Services in Diaspora Work”. The medal was received in Belgrade by her daughter, pianist Mina Ristić Jonić.

At a meeting with members of the Azerbaijani community in Serbia, held on 18 June 2026 at the Centre for Azerbaijani Language and Culture of the Faculty of Philology, University of Belgrade, the medal “For Services in Diaspora Work” was posthumously presented to pianist and professor Zarifa Alizade. The meeting was organised by the State Committee for Work with the Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the medal was received by her daughter, pianist Mina Ristić Jonić.

Zarifa Alizade was a distinguished pianist and full professor. She founded the Department of Azerbaijani Language at the Faculty of Philology in Belgrade and was its first lecturer, wishing to bring the language and culture of her country closer to people in Serbia. As reported by the Azerbaijani portal Trend, the medal was awarded for her long-standing work in promoting Azerbaijani culture in Serbia and the Balkans.

Zarifa Alizade was also her daughter’s concert partner. Mina Ristić Jonić and Zarifa Ali-zade performed as a piano duo, including at the Great Hall of the Kolarac Endowment, and played together at several concerts of the Azerbaijani Cultural Centre. With violinist Marko Josifoski, Zarifa Ali-zade recorded all ten Beethoven sonatas for violin and piano, released by PGP-RTS.

The meeting closed with a cultural programme in which Mina Ristić Jonić performed with soprano Jasmina Trumbetaš Petrović and violinist Katarina Nenadović.

“I am immensely proud that her work has been recognised. I wish she were here today to see how much her efforts have left a mark, but I believe her legacy speaks for her,” wrote Mina Ristić Jonić.