Talibov rose to power due to his marriage to Sevil Sultanova, who was related to President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev.

[citation needed] From April 1994 to December 1995 he was the first deputy of the Prime Minister of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic on foreign economic relations.

[citation needed] He supported Aliyev after his return from Moscow to Nakhchivan to seize power and participated in the establishment of the New Azerbaijan Party.

Eurasianet reported rumorts that the resignation was part of an attempt by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to increase its control on the region.

[10] He is often seen as a member of the ruling oligarchy centred on the Aliyev family and, according to Freedom House, is said to run the region as his "personal fiefdom".