The satirical magazine "Kirpi" was published in Azerbaijan in 1952, catering to the needs and realities of the era. It emerged at a crucial time when there was a demand for a fresh perspective following the legacy of "Molla Nasreddin", offering sharp criticism of societal flaws and shortcomings. True to its readers' expectations, the magazine fearlessly tackled the prevailing challenges of the time.

"Kirpi" was established as the initial and exclusive government-approved satirical publication. Until the 1990s, every edition of this popular magazine was printed in 400,000 copies. The magazine "Kirpi" was fiercely fighting against bureaucracy and bribery.  The media was meant to uncover the flaws in different aspects of society and strongly condemn the disruptive individuals that impede progress. Various officials would steer clear of being targeted by "Kirpi." At a time when the Communist Party's ideology and politics were extensively publicized in the media, the magazine became popular because of its sharp articles, feuilletons, and caricatures.

The magazine's engaging material, which included humor and thought-provoking ideas, relied heavily on the letters submitted by readers. The worth, importance, and relevance of the topics discussed were all determined by the feedback provided by the audience. Since its inception, the magazine made clear its commitment to upholding the traditions of "Molla Nasreddin" and following in the footsteps of the esteemed Mirza Jalil and the brilliant Uzeyir Bey.

Different intellectuals with varying literary tastes and writing styles, including Avaz Sadig, Gulam Mammadli, Seyfeddin Dagli, Salam Gadirzadeh, Shamil Farzaliyev, Eyvaz Borchali, and Polad Gasimov, took turns as editors of the "Kirpi" magazine. Avaz Sadig, a renowned writer and publicist, was the inaugural editor of the magazine. Avaz Sadig gained recognition for his incisive feuilletons, addressing and combating negative issues in his writing that mirrored the contemporary events of his time. His feuilletons, grounded in particular facts, sparked significant reactions and effectively helped address deficiencies. Polad Gasimov was the final editor of the satirical journal. He started working at the satirical magazine "Kirpi" in 1983 and was promoted to editor-in-chief in 1995.

Throughout its publication history, numerous authors have contributed their artistic and journalistic talents to this magazine, producing captivating works of satire and humor. The magazine regularly featured satirical poems and stories by famous Azerbaijani poets and writers like Samad Vurgun, Suleyman Rustam, Rasul Rza, Mammad Rahim, Suleyman Rahimov, Sabit Rahman, Ali Valiyev, Rufat Ahmadzadeh, and others. The great Samad Vurgun’s first satirical poem was released in the "Kirpi" magazine.

The release of the "Kirpi magazine was instrumental in advancing the caricature genre and sparked the formation of innovative traditions in this field. The cartoons featured in the magazine were used to critique the negative aspects of people's lives and daily routines. The contributions of Ismayil Akhundov, a renowned artist, were crucial in promoting the popularity of the "Kirpi" magazine. The "Kirpi" magazine successfully united cartoonists from various generations, attracting professional artists to contribute to the magazine and enhance its appeal. The exceptional artists and cartoonists, including Najafgulu Ismayilov, Tahir Salahov, Ziya Karimbeyli, Pyotr Shandin, Hasan Hagverdiyev, Sadig Sharifzade, Vsevolod Ternavski, Rizvan Guliyev, Alakbar Zeynalov, Adil Guliyev, Ogtay Sadigzade, Gullu Mustafayeva, Huseyn Aliyev, Arif Alasgarov, and Kazim Kazimzadeh, have left a lasting impression with their captivating works.

The "Kirpi" magazine was the most popular and beloved publication among thousands of readers, professionals, and artists from 1952 to 1986.  The Great Leader Heydar Aliyev regarded the magazine with the utmost care and importance.

"Healthy criticism aids the work. Criticism cannot be stifled or truth suppressed... Let justice prevail," he would often say.  Commencing in 1985, and more precisely attributed to Mikhail Gorbachev's "perestroika," a detrimental impact was observed in the realm of literary criticism, particularly affecting the esteemed "Kirpi" journal, and extending to various social, political, cultural, and economic domains. From that point forward, the magazine began publishing monthly instead of bi-monthly, leading to a reduced influence of political and social satire. The previous popularity of the journal, which was published twice a year and with at least 350,000 copies, completely faded. Only 3-4 issues were released with a small circulation per year. Due to the dedication of the magazine's management and employees, the publication was available on newsstands for several years, however, it could not recapture its previous success. While the demands of the post-independence era, like lifting censorship and ensuring press loyalty, encouraged the magazine to be more agile and responsive, the lingering influence of Soviet-era prudence and composure compelled it to adopt a more restrained stance. The magazine experienced challenges in the early 1990s and was temporarily not published. Following the passing of the chief editor Polad Gasimov, the magazine, which had been given a new lease on life by Polad Gasimov and the chief artist of the magazine Hafiz Nasiroglu, ceased publication at the start of 2017.

Recommended literature:

1. Aşırlı, Akif. Azərbaycan mətbuatı tarixi / A. Aşırlı ; red. A. Bayramoğlu. I hissə : 1875-1920. - Bakı : Elm və təhsil, 2009. - 296 s.
2. Azərbaycan mətbuat tarixi antologiyası / red. heyəti: Ə. Həsənov, V. Səfərli, Ə. Ə. Amaşov, tərt., elmi red.: Ş. Q. Vəliyev, N. Q. Yaqublu. I cild. - Bakı: Elm və təhsil, 2010. - 440 s.
3. Azərbaycan mətbuat tarixi antologiyası / red. heyəti: Ə. Həsənov, V. Səfərli, Ə. Ə. Amaşov, tərt., elmi red.: Ş. Q. Vəliyev, N. Q. Yaqublu. II cild. - Bakı: Elm və təhsil, 2011. - 440 s.
4. Mətbuat tarixi və publisistika məsələləri / İ. Ə. Həbibbəyli [et al.]; tərt. A. H. Rüstəmli ; elmi red. İ. Ə. Həbibbəyli. - Bakı: Ozan, 2016. - 184 s.
5. Azərbaycan çap mətbuatı tarixinin inciləri: 1875-1920 = Historical Gems of Azerbaijani Press : 1875-1920. - Bakı : Şərq-Qərb, 2020. - 160 s.