Alasgar Mammadov (; 10 October 1919 – 29 January 2000), also known as Ali Assger Mamedov or Ali Asgar Mammadov, was an Azerbaijani and Soviet orientalist, Arabist, pedagogue, honored scientist, and specialist in German and Arabic languages. He is considered the founder of modern Arabic studies in Azerbaijan. Mammadov was sought after for his innovations in instructive methodology of Arabic. He was also notable for his work as one of the two Azerbaijani translators at the Nuremberg trials of Nazi war criminals following World War II. Biography Early years and education Alasgar Mammadov was born on 10 October 1919 in Keshla, Baku and was raised by his uncle due to premature death of his parents. After graduating from seven-year high school, Mammadov studied at the Baku Industrial Technical College named after Nariman Narimanov in 1933–1937 and at the German language department of the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical Institute in 1937–1941. Meanwhile, he taught German at the newly established Baku Higher Naval School. In July 1941, Mammadov was sent to Moscow to study Eastern languages together with representatives from Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia, after which he graduated from the Military Department of the Moscow Institute of Oriental Studies with an honours diploma. Nuremberg trials Since February 1945, Mammadov had started working as a chief reviewer in the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs of the USSR. Throughout this period he was involved in the Nuremberg process as a translator and German language specialist until February 1946. He was one of the two Azerbaijanis who participated in the international tribunal along with Enver Mamedov. While working in the ministry, Alasgar Mammadov translated a large part of the seized diplomatic documents, approximately more than 30, of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Russian. When 26-year-old Mammadov was taking the German language exam in order to take part as the Soviet delegation member in Nuremberg, Grabor-Passak, the German language expert, was satisfied with him and recommended his participation. Later, Alasgar Mammadov mentioned the following memories in his interviews about the Nuremberg Tribunal: Scientific and pedagogical work Since August 1947, after marrying Shovkat khanim, Mammadov had started teaching and scientific activities at the Faculty of Oriental Studies of Baku State University. He was elected the dean of the faculty, after which he founded the Arabic language department in 1957 and headed this department for 29 years. In 1947-1950, he worked as a senior lecturer at the