Ilham Aliyev

President of Azerbaijan since 2003

For the soldier, see Ilham Aliyev (soldier).

Ilham Aliyev

İlham Əliyev

Aliyev in 2023

4th President of Azerbaijan

Incumbent

Assumed office
31 October 2003
Prime Minister|

* Artur Rasizade
* Novruz Mammadov
* Ali Asadov

Vice President| Mehriban Aliyeva
Preceded by| Heydar Aliyev
7th Prime Minister of Azerbaijan
In office
4 August 2003 – 31 October 2003
President| Heydar Aliyev
Preceded by| Artur Rasizade
Succeeded by| Artur Rasizade
Leader of the New Azerbaijan Party

Incumbent

Assumed office
2005
Deputy| Mehriban Aliyeva
Preceded by| Heydar Aliyev
Chairman of the Turkic Council
In office
15 October 2019 – 12 November 2021
Preceded by| Sooronbay Jeenbekov
Succeeded by| Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Secretary General of the Non-Aligned Movement

Incumbent

Assumed office
25 October 2019
Preceded by| Nicolás Maduro
Personal details
Born|

İlham Heydər oğlu Əliyev

(1961-12-24) 24 December 1961 (age 62)
Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, Soviet Union
Political party| New Azerbaijan Party
Spouse|

Mehriban Aliyeva

(m. 1983)​

Children|

* Leyla
* Arzu
* Heydar

Parents|

* Heydar Aliyev
* Zarifa Aliyeva

Alma mater| Moscow State Institute of International Relations
Occupation| Politician
Signature|

|  |

This article is part of
a series about

Ilham Aliyev

|

President of Azerbaijan

Incumbent

* * *

Presidency

Domestic

* 2009 constitutional referendum
* Eurovision Song Contest 2012
* Gulargate
* Launching of Azerspace-1/Africasat-1a
* Halting of the Khazar Islands Project
* 2015 European Games
* 2015 Baku residence building fire
* 2015 Gunashli Platform fire
* 2016 Azerbaijani constitutional referendum
* Azerbaijan Grand Prix
* 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games
* 2018 Baku fire

Foreign

* Inauguration of Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline
* Inauguration of Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway
* Border clashes
* 2008 Mardakert
* 2010 Nagorno-Karabakh
* 2010 Mardakert
* 2012
* 2014
* 2014 Armenian Mil Mi-24 shootdown
* 2016
* Gyunnut Operation
* 2020 Tovuz clashes
* Second Nagorno-Karabakh War
* Russian Mi-24 shootdown
* Ceasefire
* Ramil Safarov repatriation
* Caviar diplomacy
* Zamira Hajiyeva controversy
* Inauguration of Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline
* Convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea
* Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh

* * *

Opposition

* 2003 Baku protests
* Our Azerbaijan bloc
* Alikram Hummatov
* Elmar Huseynov
* Nida Civic Movement
* 2013 Baku protests
* Ilgar Mammadov
* Leyla Yunus
* Rasul Jafarov
* Intiqam Aliyev
* Khadija Ismayilova
* Mehman Huseynov
* Operation Nardaran
* 2018 Ganja protests
* 2019 Baku protests

* * *

Incidents

* 2007 Baku terrorist plot
* 2008 Abu Bakr Mosque attack
* 2009 ASOA shooting

* * *

Presidential campaigns

* 2003
* 2008
* 2013
* 2018

* * *

Personal life

* Heydar Aliyev‎ (father)
* Zarifa Aliyeva‎ (mother)
* Jalal Aliyev (uncle)
* Mehriban Aliyev‎a (wife)
* Leyla Aliyeva‎ (daughter)
* Arzu Aliyeva‎ (daughter)
* Panama Papers

* * *

* v
* t
* e

Ilham Heydar oghlu Aliyev (Azerbaijani: İlham Heydər oğlu Əliyev [ilˈhɑm hejˈdæɾ oɣˈlu æˈlijev]; born 24 December 1961) is an Azerbaijani politician who is the fourth and current president of Azerbaijan. The son and second child of former Azerbaijani president Heydar Aliyev, Aliyev became the country's president on 31 October 2003, after a two-month term as prime minister of Azerbaijan, through a presidential election defined by irregularities shortly before his father's death. He was reelected for a second term in 2008 and was allowed to run in elections indefinitely in 2013 and 2018 due to the 2009 constitutional referendum, which removed term limits for presidents. Throughout his electoral campaign, Aliyev was a member of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, which he has headed since 2005.

Azerbaijan being oil-rich is viewed to have significantly strengthened the stability of Aliyev's regime and enriched ruling elites in Azerbaijan, making it possible for the country to host lavish international events, as well as engage in extensive lobbying efforts.

Aliyev's family have enriched themselves through their ties to state-run businesses. They own significant parts of several major Azerbaijani banks, construction firms and telecommunications firms, and partially owns the country's oil and gas industries. Much of the wealth is hidden through an elaborate network of offshore companies. He was named Corruption's 'Person of the Year' by Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project in 2012.[1] In 2017, it was revealed that Aliyev and his family were involved in the Azerbaijani laundromat, a complex money-laundering scheme to pay off prominent European politicians to deflect criticism of Aliyev and promote a positive image of his regime.

Many observers see Aliyev as a dictator.[2][3][4][5][6][7] He leads an authoritarian regime in Azerbaijan; elections are not free and fair, political power is concentrated in the hands of Aliyev and his extended family, corruption is rampant, and human rights violations are severe (including torture, arbitrary arrests, as well as harassment of journalists and non-governmental organizations). The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict continued during Aliyev's presidency and culminated into a full-scale war in 2020 in which Azerbaijan regained control over the Armenian-occupied territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh that were lost during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, as well as a part of Nagorno-Karabakh region itself.

## Early life[edit]

Ilham Aliyev is the son of Heydar Aliyev, president of Azerbaijan from 1993 to 2003.[8] His mother Zarifa Aliyeva was an Azerbaijani ophthalmologist. He also has an older sister, Sevil Aliyeva.[9] In 1977, Ilham Aliyev entered the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO-MSIIR) and in 1982, continued his education as a postgraduate.[10] In 1985 he received a PhD degree in history.[10] From 1985 to 1990 Aliyev lectured at MSIIR.[10] From 1991 to 1994, he led a group of private industrial-commercial enterprises.[11] In 1994–2003, he was vice-president, and later the first vice-president of SOCAR, the state-owned Azerbaijani oil and gas company.[11] Since 1997, Aliyev is the president of the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan.[11][12]

## Electoral history and fraud[edit]

In 1999, Ilham Aliyev was elected as the deputy chair of the ruling party New Azerbaijan Party and in 2001, he was elected to the post of first deputy chair at the Second Congress of the Party.[13] At the third Congress of the New Azerbaijan Party held on 26 March 2005, President Aliyev and the first deputy of the Party was unanimously elected to the post of chairman of the Party. The fourth and fifth congresses of the party held in 2008 and 2013 unanimously supported his nomination for the next presidential term.[14]

In 1995, Aliyev was elected to the Parliament of Republic of Azerbaijan; later he became president of the National Olympic Committee (still incumbent).[citation needed]

From 2001 to 2003, Aliyev was head of the Azerbaijani delegation to Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).[11][15]

In August 2003, while his father Heydar Aliyev was still formally president of Azerbaijan but was ill and absent from public events, Ilham Aliyev was appointed as Prime Minister.[8][16]

### 2003 election[edit]

Main article: 2003 Azerbaijani presidential election

The official results of the 15 October 2003 elections gave victory to Ilham Aliyev, who earned 76.84% of the votes.[17] The election was defined by election fraud.[18][19][20][8] Human Rights Watch and the Institute for Democracy in Eastern Europe documented arrests of opposition candidates, police violence against journalists and participants in election rallies, and "widespread fraud and abuse" in the conduct of the election itself.[19][20]

### 2008 election[edit]

Main article: 2008 Azerbaijani presidential election

Ilham Aliyev was re-elected in 2008 with 87% of the polls. A total of seven candidates filed to run in the election who had to collect 40,000 voter signatures.[21] According to the report of the Election Observation Delegation from the European Parliament the elections took place with no reported unrest and few minor electoral violations. The report also highlights numerous reforms to the Electoral Code in accordance with OSCE and Council of Europe requirements and standards, which include inking of voters, more transparency of voter lists, and the prohibition of government interference in the election process.[22]

During the 2008 presidential elections, PACE observers included a large group of frankly pro-Azerbaijani MPs. The variant of the statement on elections, prepared by the head of the group of observers Andreas Herkel, containing critical remarks, faced the rejection of the pro-Azerbaijani group consisting of Michael Hancock, Eduard Lintner and Paul Ville. Herkel was forced to declare his resignation if criticism did not go into the statement. During the referendum, which lifted the limits on the number of presidential terms for Ilham Aliyev, four PACE deputies – Eduard Litner, Paul Ville, Khaki Keskin and Pedro Agramunt evaluated the referendum as the progress of democracy.[23] In a constitutional referendum in 2009, term limits for the presidency were abolished. The opposition claimed this to be a violation of the Azerbaijani constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights.[24] European Commission said the step "signalled a serious setback".[25]

### 2013 election[edit]

Main articles: 2013 Azerbaijani presidential election and caviar diplomacy § 2013 Presidential elections

In the 2013 presidential elections held on 9 October, Aliyev claimed victory with 85 percent of the vote, securing a third five-year term.[26] The election results were accidentally released before the polls opened.[27]

Election observation delegations from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament claimed to have observed a free, fair and transparent electoral process with no evidence of voter intimidation.[28] A day before voting began, however, the Central Election Commission released a new smartphone application intended to allow citizens to watch the ballot counting in real time, and instead the app accidentally showed the results of the election before the election had taken place.[29] The Central Election Commission tried to justify the incident by saying that the initially displayed results were those of the 2008 election, even though the candidates listed, including Jamil Hasanli in second place, were from the 2013 ballot.[30] Aliyev's main rivals in the election were Jamil Hasanli and Igbal Agazade.[citation needed]

In 2013, Amnesty International called on western leaders to speak up against the arrest of Anar Mammadli, prominent human rights activist and head of the independent Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Centre, who was falsely charged with tax evasion and illegal business activity, after his organisation had reported widespread violations during the election.[31]

Observers from the OSCE / ODIHR spoke of restrictions on freedom of speech during elections.[32][33] The US State Department described the elections as not meeting international standards, and expressing solidarity with the ODIHR's assessment.[34]

There was a controversy over election observers who had allegedly been paid by the Azerbaijani regime through the Azerbaijani laundromat scandal. A German former lawmaker Eduard Lintner led a mission that claimed that the elections were up to "German standards"; however, Lintner's group had been paid 819,500 euros through the laundromat moneylaundering scheme.[35][36] According to the OCCRP, there is "ample evidence of its connection to the family of President Aliyev."[35]

### 2018 election[edit]

Aliyev celebrates victory in 2018 elections.

Main article: 2018 Azerbaijani presidential election

Ilham Aliyev got 86.02% of votes in the 2018 presidential election.[37] Major opposition parties did not participate in the election,[38] and evidence indicates that the election was fraudulent.[39][40]

## Policies[edit]

### Foreign policy[edit]

See also: List of presidential trips made by Ilham Aliyev

Ilham Aliyev met with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, 26 October 2019

Azerbaijani foreign relations under Aliyev included strengthened cooperation with the European Union (EU), strong economic ties with Russia, cooperation with NATO via the NATO–Azerbaijan Individual Partnership Action Plan, and close relations with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).[41] using Azerbaijan's oil wealth, the Azerbaijani regime engages in extensive lobbying efforts, using complex money-laundering and bribery schemes discovered during the Azerbaijani laundromat scandal, such as Caviar diplomacy, to pay off prominent European politicians to deflect and whitewash criticism of Aliyev and promote a positive image of his regime and gain support for Azerbaijani projects.[42][43]

Before the start of a trilateral meeting. Left to right: Hassan Rouhani, Ilham Aliyev, and Vladimir Putin.

During Aliyev's presidency, in 2019, Azerbaijan was elected chair of the Turkic Council,[44] as well as Non-Aligned Movement for a three-year mandate.[45]

#### United Nations[edit]

See also: Azerbaijan and the United Nations

Ilham Aliyev attended and addressed the general debates of the 59th, 65th and 72 sessions (2004, 2010, 2017) of the UN General Assembly.[46][47][48]

#### European Union[edit]

See also: Azerbaijan–European Union relations

Ilham Aliyev and President of the European Council Charles Michel in Brussels, Belgium (April 2022)

Ilham Aliyev expanded cooperation with the European Union (EU) during his presidency, using caviar diplomacy as a controversial technique of persuading European officials to support Azerbaijani projects.[49] in 2004, Azerbaijan became part of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) of the EU.[50] In 2006, Aliyev and Matti Vanhanen, president of the European Council, and José Manuel Barroso, president of the commission, signed the Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Partnership.[51]

In 2009, Azerbaijan was included in the Eastern Partnership Policy.[52] In 2011, Aliyev and José Manuel Barroso concluded the Joint Declaration on the Southern Gas Corridor.[53]

On 6 February 2017, Aliyev visited Brussels, the capital of the EU, where he paid visits to High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, with the President of the European Council, Commission President, and the Commissioner for Energy Union.[54] which resulted in signing the "Partnership Priorities" between EU and Azerbaijan on 11 July 2018.[55]

#### France[edit]

See also: Azerbaijan—France relations

Aliyev with French President Emmanuel Macron

During 12–15 March 2017, Aliyev made an official visit to France[56] and met with executive officials of international companies SUEZ, DCNS, CIFAL, Space Systems in the Airbus Defence and Space Division.[57][58][59] during a meeting with French entrepreneurs, he stated that the activities of some companies in the Republic of Artsakh is "unacceptable and violates international and national laws".[60] Following his visit, Aliyev met with the French President in the Elysee Palace.[61] French President Francois Hollande made a press statement in which he stated that "the status quo in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not the right option and he hopes that there can be a resumption of negotiations."[62] During the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, in which France supported Azerbaijan's adversary Armenia, Aliyev demanded that French president Emmanuel Macron apologize for accusing Azerbaijan of using Syrian mercenaries.[63]

#### Russia[edit]

See also: Azerbaijan–Russia relations

Aliyev with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, 23 January 2012

On 6 February 2004, Aliyev and Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, signed the Moscow Declaration, which stated principles of relations between Azerbaijan and Russia.[64] On 16 February 2005 Aliyev participated in the ceremony of opening the Year of Azerbaijan in Russia.[65] On 29 June 2006, Ilham Aliyev and Dmitry Medvedev, former President of the Russian Federation, concluded a joint statement on the Caspian Sea.[66] In 2018, Aliyev and Putin signed Joint Statement on Priority Areas of Economic Cooperation between the two countries.[67][68] Aliyev met with Russian and Iranian leaders in Baku in 2016 to discuss terrorism, transnational organized crime, arms smuggling and drug trafficking in the region.[69] the trilateral summit signed a declaration to develop the International North–South Transport Corridor, which would run from India to Saint Petersburg, providing better alternatives to existing sea routes.[70]

#### United States[edit]

See also: Azerbaijan–United States relations

Aliyev with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2012

Aliyev has met with multiple U.S. Presidents during his tenure: George W. Bush,[71][72] Barack Obama,[73] and Donald Trump.[74]

#### North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)[edit]

See also: Azerbaijan–NATO relations

Aliyev with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. NATO member Turkey is a longtime ally of Azerbaijan. Ilham Aliyev and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the joint press conference in November 2017

During Aliyev's presidency, Azerbaijan joined the Individual Partnership Action Plan. Azerbaijan has completed NATO-Azerbaijan Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) documents for three periods.[75] Ilham Aliyev introduced Azerbaijan's first IPAP to NATO in Brussels on 19 May 2014.[76]

Aliyev has attended several NATO summits and other meetings.[77][78][79][80][81][82] Azerbaijan contributed to the NATO-led "Resolute Support" mission in Afghanistan.[83][84]

### Domestic policy[edit]

The neutrality of this section is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met. (October 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

|

#### Religious policy[edit]

On 10 January 2017 Ilham Aliyev announced 2017 as the year of Islamic Solidarity and allocated funds to organize the related events.[85][86] In 2014 and 2015, Aliyev allocated funds from Presidential Reserve Fund multiple time towards efforts to promote "interreligious dialogue and tolerance" and to restore monuments in Azerbaijan.[87][88]

#### Corruption[edit]

Corruption is rampant in Azerbaijan.[89][90][91][92][93] According to Transparency International, Azerbaijan scores just 30 on the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index, indicating a serious problem with corruption. On 8 August 2017, Transparency Azerbaijan announced that it had scaled back its operations in the capital city of Baku, because the government would not approve an extension of the funding as it comes from outside the country. According to Transparency International "The blanket ban on foreign grants has brought the country's civil society to a halt and has dealt a devastating blow to civic initiatives across the board".[93]

#### LGBT rights[edit]

Discrimination against LGBT people is severe in Azerbaijan.[94] In 2020, ILGA-Europe again declared Azerbaijan the worst country in all of Europe for LGBT rights, with the country receiving a final score of just 2%.[95][96] Human rights activists have criticized Aliyev's record on LGBT rights.[94]

### International sporting events[edit]

Aliyev awards winners of the 2019 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Azerbaijan's oil wealth has made it possible for the country to host lavish international events.[97]

Aliyev is the president of the National Olympic Committee since 1997.[98] During his presidency, Azerbaijan hosted some international sports events such as the 2015 European Games,[99] 4th Islamic Solidarity Games[100] and 42nd Chess Olympiad[101] and the 2016 European Grand Prix.[102] Aliyev attended various opening and award ceremonies where he awarded the winning prizes.[103][104][105]

### Economic policy[edit]

Further information: Economy of Azerbaijan

Aliyev with Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu in Davos, Switzerland. Economic cooperation between Israel and Azerbaijan has been growing significantly.

Upon becoming president in 2003, Aliyev was positioned to enjoy a booming economy fueled by the oil and gas sector; Azerbaijan had the world's fastest rate of economic growth in the three-year period from 2005-2007.[106] Azerbaijan's oil riches strengthened the stability of Aliyev's regime and enriched ruling elites in Azerbaijan.[107][108][109][110] However, periods of low oil prices, as well as inflation, weakened the Azerbaijani economy[106][111] and slowed economic growth.[112] Aliyev continued the neopatrimonial system inherited from his father.[106] Azerbaijan's oligarchic system inhibited smaller businesses and blocked foreign investment outside the fossil fuels sector.[106] Persistent pledges by Aliyev and Azerbaijani elites to prioritize economic diversification yielded few major results,[106] as the country remained largely depended on oil and gas.[111] The International Monetary Fund has urged Azerbaijan to diverse its economy.[112] Efforts to economically liberalize were inhibited by the authorities' fear of political liberalization.[106] Currency devaluation has been another economic challenge under Aliyev's tenure.[106][111] In a rare public criticism of other government officials, Aliyev criticized his Economy Minister Shakhin Mustafayev and other Cabinet members for frequently shifting economic forecasts, and for seeking to block economic reforms by blackmailing and denigrating other officials.[113]

## Criticism[edit]

### Wealth and corruption[edit]

The Aliyev family have enriched themselves through their ties to state-run businesses. They own significant parts of several major Azerbaijani banks, construction firms and telecommunications firms, as well as partially own the country's oil and gas industries. Much of the wealth is hidden in offshore companies.[114] The 2021 Pandora Papers leaks showed that the Aliyev family built a vast offshore network to hide their money. The family and their close associates have secretly been involved in property deals in the UK worth more than £400 million.[115][116][117]

Aliyev family in 2018

Andrew Higgins, writing in The Washington Post, stated in 2010 that Azerbaijanis with the same names as Ilham Aliyev's three children owned real estate in Dubai worth about $75 million. Higgins stated that some members of the family are indeed wealthy, such as the president's older daughter, Leyla, married to Emin Agalarov, a Russian billionaire, and relatives of the first lady who have businesses in Azerbaijan.[118]

In 2012, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project called Ilham Aliyev the person of the year in organized crime and corruption.[1] Also in 2012, CNBC produced the film Filthy Rich about corruption which also mentioned the Aliyev family.[119]

According to a 2013 investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), the Aliyev family owned at least four offshore companies directly connected with Hassan Gozal.[120] ICIJ stated that family members never declared the Aliyevs' offshore companies, that Ilham and Mehriban Aliyevs had no legal right to open offshore companies, and that when these companies were opened, measures were taken to conceal the real owners. When registering the companies, Aliyev's daughters indicated property worth about $6 million.[121][122] Investigation of Swedish television showed that offshore companies controlled by Aliyevs received from TeliaSonera the Swedish telecommunications company, a factual bribe in the form of shares of Azercell cellular operator in the amount of 600–700 million dollars (due to the estimate of 2005), which was purchased for only 6.5 million dollars.[123][124][125] In a resolution on 10 September 2015, the European Parliament called on the EU authorities to conduct a thorough investigation of allegations of corruption against Ilham Aliyev and his family members.[126]

Journalist Khadija Ismayilova, who worked for the United States government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, carried out journalistic investigations, and claimed that Aliyev's family controlled some companies such as "Azerfon", "Azenco", and assets worth $3 billion in the largest Azerbaijani banks.[127][128]

Ismayilova was later detained in December 2014 and sentenced in September 2015 to seven-and-a-half years in prison on trumped-up charges. She was conditionally released in May 2016, in 2020 she was still subject to a travel ban and had been unable to leave the country despite numerous applications to do so. Lawyers will be seeking permission for Ismayilova to travel to the UK to give evidence in the trial of Paul Radu, a Romanian journalist who is co-founder and executive director of investigative reporting group OCCRP (the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project). Radu is being sued for defamation in London by Azerbaijani MP, Javanshir Feyziyev, over two articles in OCCRP's award-winning Azerbaijan Laundromat series about money-laundering out of Azerbaijan. Ismayilova, OCCRP's lead reporter in Azerbaijan, is a key witness in the case.[129][additional citation(s) needed]

Aliyev was also included on a list of figures (others being the Minister of Emergency Situations Kamaladdin Heydarov, head of the Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva) accused of accepting bribes of 1,000,000$ USD from MP candidates to guarantee their "election win" and inclusion to the parliament. This high-level corruption scandal is widely called the Gulargate.[130]

### Lobbying and money laundering[edit]

Azerbaijan's oil wealth has made it possible for the regime to engage in extensive lobbying efforts. In 2017, the Aliyev family was implicated in the Azerbaijani laundromat scandal, which was a complex money-laundering scheme to pay off prominent European politicians to deflect criticism of Aliyev and promote a positive image of his regime.[42][43]

### Authoritarianism[edit]

Aliyev rules an authoritarian regime in Azerbaijan,[131] as elections are not free and fair, power is concentrated in the hands of Aliyev and his extended family, corruption is rampant, and human rights violations are severe (which included torture,[132][133] arbitrary arrests, as well as harassment of journalists and non-governmental organizations).[134][135][136][92][137][138][139][97] Many observers see Aliyev as a dictator.[140][141][142][143][144][145]

#### Human rights violations[edit]

Human rights violations in Azerbaijan during Aliyev's presidency include torture,[133] arbitrary arrests and harassment of journalists and non-governmental organizations.[139]

#### Suppression of opposition parties and free press[edit]

In a speech delivered on 15 July 2020, during the 2020 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes, President Aliyev targeted the largest opposition party, the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan. He declared that "we need to finish with the 'fifth column" and the Popular Front "worse than the Armenians". According to Azerbaijani sources as many as 120 people are currently held in jail, including some deputy leaders of the party as well as journalists. On 20 July the U.S. State Department urged Azerbaijan to avoid using the pandemic to silence "civil society advocacy, opposition voices, or public discussion".[146] These actions are widely seen as an attempt "to eliminate pro-democracy advocates and political rivals once and for all". According to RFE/RL, "Aliyev's authoritarian rule has shut down independent media outlets and suppressed opposition parties while holding elections deemed neither free nor fair by international monitoring groups".[147]

## Controversies[edit]

### Ramil Safarov repatriation[edit]

Main article: Ramil Safarov

In 2012, Aliyev convinced the government of Hungary to transfer convicted murderer Ramil Safarov to Azerbaijan to complete the rest of his prison term. While attending a NATO-sponsored English-language course in Hungary, Safarov had murdered an Armenian lieutenant who was also taking the course, Gurgen Margaryan, while Margaryan was asleep. Safarov admitted that he committed the crime and surrendered himself to the police. Safarov has justified the act based over the Naghorno Karabakh conflict between the two countries from 1988 to 1994.[148][149] Safarov had been tried and sentenced to life imprisonment in Hungary. However, after being extradited to Azerbaijan, Safarov received a hero's welcome, promoted to the rank of major, and given an apartment and over eight years of back pay, covering the time he had spent in jail.[150][151]

### Statements about conflict with Armenians[edit]

See also: Western Azerbaijan (irredentist concept)

Aliyev during the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War between Armenia, Artsakh and Azerbaijan on 4 October 2020

While in office, Aliyev has made numerous anti-Armenian statements, [152] and claiming historically Armenian territory for Azerbaijan.[citation needed]

Shortly after thousands of Azerbaijani people gathered to commemorate the Khojaly massacre, in which Azerbaijan claims that 613 Azerbaijanis had been massacred by the Armenian irregular forces and the 366th CIS regiment of the Soviet Union 20 years earlier, Human Rights Watch claims that 200+ Azerbaijanis were massacred, Aliyev posted on his official website: "Our main enemies are Armenians of the world and the hypocritical and corrupt politicians that they control".[153][154] During his speech, Ilham Aliyev noted: "I once said that the Armenian people should not be afraid of us, they should be afraid of their own leadership".[155]

In 2008, Aliyev declared that "Nagorno Karabakh will not be independent; the position is backed by international mediators as well; Armenia has to accept the reality", and also stated that "in 1918, Yerevan was granted to the Armenians. It was a great mistake. The khanate of Iravan was the Azerbaijani territory, the Armenians were guests there."[156] President Ilham Aliyev stated, "the occupation of the territory of the sovereign State with its internationally recognized boundaries – our territorial integrity is recognized by the United Nation and has been left out of due attention of the international community. All these facts are the ever seen injustice."[157] "No project can be carried out in the Armenian occupied Azerbaijani territories without the consent and participation of Azerbaijan".[158]

Aliyev said that "Armenians living in Karabakh must either accept Azerbaijani citizenship or look for another place to live"[159][160][161] adding that "I am sure that the majority of the Armenian population living in Karabakh today is ready to accept Azerbaijani citizenship. It's just that these leeches, these wild animals, the separatists [referring to the de facto Republic of Artsakh representatives] don't allow it."[161][162] Aliyev's irredentist statements have drawn criticism from EU officials and human rights organizations specializing in genocide studies.[163][164][165][166][167][168][169][170][171]

During a speech on 10 November 2020, Aliyev directly referred to Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan by mockingly saying Nə oldu Paşinyan? ("What happened Pashinyan?"), which became an Internet meme in Azerbaijan and Turkey.[172][173]

In 2023, experts in genocide prevention stated that Azerbaijan's blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh and sabotage of public infrastructure constitutes genocide according to the Genocide Convention: "Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction" and that there are various indicators that Azerbaijan possesses genocidal intent: President Aliyev's public statements, his regime's openly Armenophobic practices and noncompliance with the International Court of Justice orders to end the blockade.[174][175][176]

#### Denying Armenia's right to exist[edit]

See also: Falsification of history in Azerbaijan and Anti-Armenian sentiment in Azerbaijan

Aliyev has repeatedly made substantial territorial claims over Armenia proper.[177] In 2012 he stated that "Armenia as a country is of no value. It is actually a colony, an outpost run from abroad, a territory artificially created on ancient Azerbaijani lands."[177] In 2013 he defined much of Armenia as "historical lands" of the Azerbaijanis, promising them that they will live there "in the future", including in "Irevan and Zangezur regions", to which he sometimes adds "Geicha", Meghri, and Goris.[177] The first three of these are irredentist terms by which he means the Armenian capital Yerevan, the southern Syunik Province, and Lake Sevan in Gegharkunik Province, all of them in Armenia, while the latter two are towns in Syunik Province. In 2018, when he became the New Azerbaijan Party's presidential candidate, he repeated his call for "the return of Azerbaijanis to these lands" and declared this to be "our political and strategic goal, and we must gradually approach it." [178] In December 2016, he clarified that he does not "intend to reclaim [these lands] ... through military force" in the immediate future, but that the "time will come" when "we, Azerbaijanis, will return to all our historic lands", wherefore "[t]he main factor [for success] is strength... a more powerful army."[177]

## Personal life[edit]

Ilham Aliyev with the first lady during the Moscow Victory Day Parade, 9 May 2015

Ilham Aliyev married Mehriban Aliyeva in Baku on 22 January 1983. They have three children, Leyla, Arzu and Heydar; and five grandchildren. He is fluent in Azerbaijani, English, French, Russian and Turkish.[10] His wife is also the first Vice President of Azerbaijan.[179]

## Honours[edit]

### National honours and medals[180][edit]

* Azerbaijan – Heydar Aliyev Order
* Azerbaijan – Order of Sheikhulislam

### Foreign honours[edit]

Ilham Aliyev receiving the Supreme Order of the Turkic World during the 8th summit of the Organization of Turkic States

* Romania – Order of the Star of Romania (2004)
* Saudi Arabia – Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud (2005)
* Georgia – Order of Honor of Georgia
* Bulgaria \- Order of Stara Planina
* France – Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor
* Poland – Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
* Ukraine – First Class of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise (2008)
* Kuwait – Order of Mubarak the Great
* Greece – Gold Medal of the Hellenic Republic
* Latvia – Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Three Stars
* Romania – Grand Cross of Faithful Service
* Tajikistan – Order of Ismoili Somoni
* Turkey – First Class of the Order of the State of Republic of Turkey (2013)
* Ukraine – Order of Liberty (2013)
* Serbia – Order of the Republic of Serbia (2013)[181]
* Italy – Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (12 July 2018)
* Bulgaria – "Friendship" order of Bulgaria (2019)
* Kazakhstan – Order of the Golden Eagle (22 August 2022)[182]

International organizations

* CIS Medal For Distinction in Protection of CIS State Borders and Badge for Strengthening of Border Cooperation (2008).[183]
* Organization of Turkic States – Supreme Order of Turkic World[184]

Others

* Turkey – İhsan Doğramacı Prize for International Relations for Peace
* Russia – Prepodobniy Sergiy Rodonejskiy first degree Order of Russian Orthodox Church
* International Military Sports Council – Grand Cordon Order of Merit[185]

### Honorary degrees[edit]

Aliyev has also received honorary degrees from universities from the following states: Turkmenistan, Belarus, Russia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Romania, Jordan, Hungary, Azerbaijan, and South Korea.[180]

## See also[edit]

* Politics of Azerbaijan

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b ""Ilham Aliyev, 2012 Person of the Year in organised crime and corruption". Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. Archived from the original on 11 April 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
2. ^ Turp-Balazs, Craig (17 March 2021). "Alexander Lukashenko is a dictator, but he is not Europe's last". Emerging Europe. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
3. ^ Neukirch, Ralf (4 January 2012). "A Dictator's Dream: Azerbaijan Seeks to Burnish Image Ahead of Eurovision". Der Spiegel. ISSN 2195-1349. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
4. ^ Rubin, Michael (22 October 2021). "Azerbaijan's Aliyev is a strategic liability, not an asset". The National Interest. Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
5. ^ "French court backs media description of Aliyev as a "dictator"". The Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
6. ^ "Autocrats take advantage of coronavirus". Council on Foreign Relations. Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
7. ^ Hunder, Max. "Azerbaijan's dissenting voices face imprisonment and worse". Kyiv Post. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2023.`{{cite news}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
8. ^ a b c "Azerbaijan: Presidential Elections 2003". Human Rights Watch. 13 October 2003. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
9. ^ "A Challenger In Azerbaijan's Ruling Family?". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Radio Free Europe/RadioLiberty. 30 April 2009. Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
10. ^ a b c d "President Biography". Government of Azerbaijan. Archived from the original on 20 January 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
11. ^ a b c d "PRESIDENT » Biography". Official web-site of President of Azerbaijan Republic. Archived from the original on 20 January 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
12. ^ "Ilham Aliyev | president of Azerbaijan". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 25 February 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
13. ^ /humans.txt. "Chairman". /. Archived from the original on 4 December 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
14. ^ "www.yap.org.az/en/view/pages/5". yap.org.az. Archived from the original on 4 May 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
15. ^ Media, Blue Water. "Ilham Aliyev". www.usacc.org. Archived from the original on 28 October 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
16. ^ "Ilham Heydar oghlu Aliyev". Official web-site of President of Azerbaijan Republic. Archived from the original on 20 January 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
17. ^ "Republic of Azerbaijan Presidential Election". OSCE. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
18. ^ Radnitz, Scott (2012). "Oil in the family: managing presidential succession in Azerbaijan". Democratization. 19 (1): 60–77. doi:10.1080/13510347.2012.641300. ISSN 1351-0347. S2CID 145108832. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
19. ^ a b "Azerbaijan: Presidential Elections 2003 – Human Rights Watch Briefing Paper" (PDF). Human Rights Watch. 13 October 2003. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 September 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
20. ^ a b "The Azerbaijan 'Elections' – October 15, 2003". Institute for Democracy in Eastern Europe. 21 October 2020. Archived from the original on 4 September 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
21. ^ "Azerbaijan's Presidential Election Campaign Kicks Off - Eurasia Daily Monitor". 27 September 2008. Archived from the original on 27 September 2008. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
22. ^ Presidential Elections in Azerbaijan Election Observation Delegation –13 16 October 2008. Report by Mrs Marie Anne Isler Beguin - Chairperson of the Delegation.
23. ^ Caviar Diplomacy. How Azerbaijan silenced the Council of Europe Archived 11 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine // ESI, 24 May 2012
24. ^ Hasanli, Jamil (8 October 2013). "Azerbaijan must use this election to end the Aliyev dynasty". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
25. ^ Azerbaijan: Vulnerable Stability Archived 18 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine // International Crisis Group, September 2010
26. ^ Mehdiyeva, Thomas Grove (9 October 2013). "Aliyev wins third term as president of Azerbaijan". Reuters. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
27. ^ Clinch, Matt (10 October 2013). "Azerbaijan releases election results...before election". CNBC. Archived from the original on 17 September 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
28. ^ "PACE: News". www.assembly.coe.int. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
29. ^ Cheeseman, Nicholas; Klaas, Brian (2018). How to Rig an Election. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. p. 1\. ISBN 9780300204438.
30. ^ Fisher, Max (9 October 2013). "Oops: Azerbaijan released election results before voting had even started". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
31. ^ "Azerbaijan detains election watchdog chief". Reuters. 17 December 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
32. ^ Наблюдательная миссия ОБСЕ подвергла резкой критике выборы Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine // RFE/RL, 10 October 2013
33. ^ Кэтрин Эштон и Штефан Фюле раскритиковали президентские выборы в Азербайджане // Регнум, 11 Октября 2013 (копия)
34. ^ Azerbaijan Presidential Election (Press Statement) Archived 11 January 2019 at the Wayback Machine // U.S. Department of State, 10 October 2013
35. ^ a b Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "'Azerbaijani Laundromat' brings German ex-politician into spotlight | DW | 6 September 2017". DW.COM. Archived from the original on 6 September 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
36. ^ MEPs must explain trips to Azerbaijan // EUROPEAN VOICE, 10/16/13 (копия)
37. ^ Protocol on the voting results by central election commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Archived 16 December 2023 at the Wayback Machine 11 April 2018. Accessed on 2 May 2018.
38. ^ Bagirova, Nailia (11 April 2018). "Azerbaijan's Aliyev wins fourth term as president". Reuters. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
39. ^ "Azerbaijan's President Secures Fourth Term In Vote Criticized As Uncompetitive". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 12 April 2018. Archived from the original on 29 December 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
40. ^ Azeri president's supporters heckle as observers declare election unfair Archived 22 February 2023 at the Wayback Machine Reuters, 12 April 2018
41. ^ "President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Receives OIC S..." www.oic-oci.org. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
42. ^ a b "Everything you need to know about the Azerbaijani Laundromat". the Guardian. 4 September 2017. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
43. ^ a b "UK at centre of secret $3bn Azerbaijani money laundering and lobbying scheme". the Guardian. 4 September 2017. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
44. ^ "The VII Summit of the Turkic Council was held: President of Uzbekistan expressed readiness to become a member of the Turkic Academy". Twesco. 15 October 2021. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
45. ^ "Azerbaijan to chair the Non-Aligned Movement". Caucusus Watch. 29 October 2019. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
46. ^ "Text of the Speech in UN webpage" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
47. ^ "Text of the Statement in UN session" (PDF). gadebate.un.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
48. ^ "Speeched of the President of Azerbaijan - Library of President's Administration" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
49. ^ Doward, Jamie; Latimer, Charlotte (24 November 2013). "Plush hotels and caviar diplomacy: how Azerbaijan's elite wooed MPs". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 July 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
50. ^ "European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) - EEAS - European External Action Service - European Commission". EEAS - European External Action Service. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
51. ^ "MoU between Azerbaijan Republic and European Union" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 November 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
52. ^ "Eastern Partnership - EEAS - European External Action Service - European Commission". EEAS - European External Action Service. Archived from the original on 3 April 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
53. ^ "Joint declaration on Southern Gas Corridor" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 March 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
54. ^ "President Aliyev in Brussels - Diplomat magazine". Diplomat magazine. 20 February 2017. Archived from the original on 11 March 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
55. ^ "EU and Azerbaijan agree 'Partnership Priorities'". euractiv.com. 12 July 2018. Archived from the original on 25 April 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
56. ^ "Jean-François Mancel : "Pour la vérité et la paix entre l'Arménie et l'Azerbaïdjan"". Club de Mediapart (in French). Archived from the original on 18 March 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
57. ^ "President Ilham Aliyev met with Deputy CEO of SUEZ in Paris VIDEO". 13 March 2017. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
58. ^ "President Ilham Aliyev met with Chairman and CEO of CIFAL Group in Paris VIDEO". 13 March 2017. Archived from the original on 25 March 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
59. ^ "President Ilham Aliyev met with Executive Vice President of Space Systems in Airbus Defence and Space Division VIDEO". 13 March 2017. Archived from the original on 15 March 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
60. ^ "Our relations with France are of great importance, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev told members of MEDEF International VIDEO". 14 March 2017. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
61. ^ République, Présidence de la. "Dîner officiel en l'honneur de M. Ilham ALIYEV, Président de la République d'Azerbaïdjan". www.elysee.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 27 March 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
62. ^ "Déclaration de M. François Hollande, Président de la République, sur les relations entre la France et l'Azerbaïdjan, à Paris le 14 mars 2017". Vie publique.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
63. ^ "Aliyev demands an apology from Macron". mediamax.am. Archived from the original on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
64. ^ "Aliyev And Putin Sign Declaration Of Principles". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Archived from the original on 16 November 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
65. ^ "Beginning of the Meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilkham Aliyev". President of Russia. Archived from the original on 16 November 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
66. ^ President. "Azərbaycan Respublikasının Prezidenti". archive.president.az. Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
67. ^ "Meeting with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev". President of Russia. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
68. ^ "President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev's official visit to Russia". Azerbaijan State News Agency. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
69. ^ "Leaders of Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan discuss closer ties". Daily Herald. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 17 December 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
70. ^ "Baku to host first trilateral meeting of Russian, Azerbaijani, Iranian presidents". TASS (in Russian). Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
71. ^ "President Bush Welcomes President Aliyev of Azerbaijan to the White House". georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov. Archived from the original on 1 November 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
72. ^ "Azerbaijan - Visits by Foreign Leaders - Department History - Office of the Historian". history.state.gov. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
73. ^ "Barack Obama invites Ilham Aliyev to IV Nuclear Security Summit". Trend.Az (in Russian). 6 January 2016. Archived from the original on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
74. ^ "President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met President Donald Trump | U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan". U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan. 21 September 2017. Archived from the original on 15 November 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
75. ^ FS. "Overview of Azerbaijan-NATO Partnership". www.mfa.gov.az. Archived from the original on 26 April 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
76. ^ "Azerbaijan 15 years cooperation report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
77. ^ "President of Azerbaijan visits NATO". NATO. Archived from the original on 17 December 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
78. ^ "NATO Secretary General welcomes President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan at NATO Headquarters". NATO. Archived from the original on 17 December 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
79. ^ "NATO Secretary General says Alliance open to further cooperation with Azerbaijan". NATO. Archived from the original on 17 December 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
80. ^ "Relations with Azerbaijan". NATO. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
81. ^ FS. "Key milestones of Azerbaijan-NATO Cooperation". nato-pfp.mfa.gov.az. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
82. ^ "Official Report on Azerbaijan NATO partnership" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 June 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
83. ^ "Secretary General welcomes President of Azerbaijan to NATO Headquarters". NATO. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
84. ^ "Joint press point with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev". NATO. Archived from the original on 17 December 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
85. ^ "Azərbaycan Prezidentinin Rəsmi internet səhifəsi - SƏNƏDLƏR » Sərəncamlar 2017-ci ilin Azərbaycan Respublikasında "İslam Həmrəyliyi İli" elan edilməsi haqqında Azərbaycan Respublikası Prezidentinin Sərəncamı". www.president.az. Archived from the original on 3 February 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
86. ^ "2761 - 2017-ci ilin Azərbaycan Respublikasında "İslam Həmrəyliyi İli" elan edilməsi ilə əlaqədar Qafqaz Müsəlmanları İdarəsi tərəfindən keçiriləcək bir sıra tədbirlərin maddi təminatı haqqında". e-qanun.az. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
87. ^ "233 - Azərbaycanda dini mədəniyyətin, tolerantlığın, dinlərarası və mədəniyyətlərarası dialoqun təbliğinin gücləndirilməsinə dair əlavə tədbirlər haqqında". www.e-qanun.az. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
88. ^ "1325 - Dini tarix və mədəniyyət abidələrinin bərpasına dair əlavə tədbirlər haqqında". www.e-qanun.az. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
89. ^ Hiatt, Fred (7 February 2011). "Obama needs a freedom agenda he can believe in". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
90. ^ Scahill, Jeremy (2011). Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army. London: Profile Books. p. 238\. ISBN 9781847654786. "The board of directors includes senior executives from ExxonMobil, Chevron, Cono- coPhilips, and Coca-Cola, while the trustees include Azerbaijan's dictator, Ilham Aliyev, and top neoconservative Richard Perle."
91. ^ Neukirch, Ralf (4 January 2012). "A Dictator's Dream: Azerbaijan Seeks to Burnish Image Ahead of Eurovision". Spiegel Online. Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
92. ^ a b "Azerbaijan: Country Profile". Freedom House. Archived from the original on 23 January 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
93. ^ a b "Azerbaijan: closing down civil society - News". Transparency.org. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
94. ^ a b "Outcry as Azerbaijan police launch crackdown on LGBT community". the Guardian. 28 September 2017. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
95. ^ "Rainbow Europe 2020 | ILGA-Europe". www.ilga-europe.org. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
96. ^ "Azerbaijan" (PDF). ILGA Europe. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
97. ^ a b "The Two Faces of Azerbaijan's Mr. Aliyev". The New York Times. 11 January 2015. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
98. ^ "Official web-site of President of Azerbaijan Republic - PRESIDENT» Biography". en.president.az. Archived from the original on 20 January 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
99. ^ "Baku 2015 European Games". Baku 2015. Archived from the original on 12 May 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2017.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
100. ^ "Baku 2017". www.baku2017.com. Archived from the original on 22 June 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
101. ^ "Baku Chess Olympiad". www.bakuchessolympiad.com. Archived from the original on 18 November 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
102. ^ "Azerbaijan set to welcome Formula 1 in 2015; Korea scrapped". MotorSportsTalk. 8 May 2014. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
103. ^ "Opening ceremony and final race of the Grand Prix". en.president.az. Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
104. ^ "Official web-site of President of Azerbaijan Republic - NEWS – Events". en.president.az. Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
105. ^ "F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix ended in Baku". Azerbaijan State News Agency. Archived from the original on 17 November 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
106. ^ a b c d e f g Thomas De Waal, Azerbaijan at 25: A New Era of Change and Turbulence Archived 10 May 2023 at the Wayback Machine, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (2016).
107. ^ Guliyev, Farid (2013). "Oil and Regime Stability in Azerbaijan". Demokratizatsiya. SSRN 2218771.
108. ^ Altstadt, Audrey L. (2017). Frustrated Democracy in Post-Soviet Azerbaijan. Columbia University Press. pp. 114–120. ISBN 978-0-231-80141-6. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
109. ^ "Azerbaijan's economic miracle hits snags after oil boom | DW | 11 April 2018". DW.COM. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
110. ^ "Corruption on the Caspian: Fueling Aliyev's Regime". Freedom House. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
111. ^ a b c "Oil prices: How are countries being affected?". BBC News. 18 January 2016. Archived from the original on 2 January 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
112. ^ a b Nailia Bagirova & Margarita Antidze, Azerbaijan's economic growth slows to 3 pct in 2014 due to weaker oil price Archived 6 April 2023 at the Wayback Machine, 12 January 2015.
113. ^ Bagirova, Nailia (17 October 2019). "Azeri leader slams government for frequent economic forecast changes". Reuters. Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
114. ^ Erickson, Amanda. "Azerbaijan's president has chosen a new VP — his wife". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
115. ^ "Pandora Papers: Secret wealth and dealings of world leaders exposed". BBC News. 3 October 2021. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
116. ^ Stocks, Miranda Patrucic, Ilya Lozovsky, Kelly Bloss, and Tom. "Azerbaijan's Ruling Aliyev Family and Their Associates Acquired Dozens of Prime London Properties Worth Nearly $700 Million". OCCRP. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2024.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
117. ^ Stocks, Tom; Bloss, Kelly; Patrucic, Miranda; Lozovsky, Ilya. "Azerbaijan's Ruling Aliyev Family and Their Associates Acquired Dozens of Prime London Properties Worth Nearly $700 Million". OCCRP. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
118. ^ Higgins, Andrew (5 March 2010). "Pricey real estate deals in Dubai raise questions about Azerbaijan's president". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 5 January 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
119. ^ Cohn, Scott (22 February 2012). "Crude of All Evil? How Oil is Fueling Some Tough Choices". CNBC. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
120. ^ "How Family that Runs Azerbaijan Built an Empire of Hidden Wealth - ICIJ". 4 April 2016. Archived from the original on 27 November 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
121. ^ Stefan Candea (3 April 2013). "Offshore companies provide link between corporate mogul and Azerbaijan's president – Secrecy for Sale: Inside the Global Offshore Money Maze". International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Archived from the original on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
122. ^ "Panama Papers: What We've Learned So Far From Huge Leak". NBC News. Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
123. ^ Professor: «Inled förundersökning» Archived 11 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine // Svt.se, 27 maj 2015
124. ^ Offshores Close to President Paid Nothing for State Share of Telecom Archived 19 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine // OCCRP, 27 May 2015
125. ^ Telia Sonera medger nytt samarbete med diktatur Archived 6 April 2023 at the Wayback Machine // Sveriges Television, 8 April 2015
126. ^ "European Parliament resolution of 10 September 2015 on Azerbaijan (2015/2840(RSP))". Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
127. ^ ""Ilham Aliyev, 2012 Person of the Year in organised crime and corruption". Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. Archived from the original on 11 April 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
128. ^ Audrey L. Altstadt. Frustrated Democracy in Post-Soviet Azerbaijan // Columbia University Press, 2017, ISBN 0231801416, 9780231801416
129. ^ "Reporters Without Borders, Index on Censorship and Transparency International UK urge Azerbaijan to lift journalist's travel ban | Reporters without borders". RSF. 15 January 2020. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
130. ^ "Gülər Əhmədova ilə bağlı yeni video yayıldı". Azadlıq Radiosu (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
131. ^ Altstadt, Audrey L. (2017). Frustrated Democracy in Post-Soviet Azerbaijan. Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-80141-6. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
132. ^ Gogia, Giorgi (25 July 2018). "Torture is 'Systemic and Endemic' in Azerbaijan". hrw.org. Human Rights Watch. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
133. ^ a b Shaun Walker (22 March 2012), "Azerbaijan warms up for Eurovision by torturing musicians", The Independent, archived from the original on 14 June 2012, retrieved 5 August 2012
134. ^ Vincent, Rebecca (19 May 2013). "When the music dies: Azerbaijan one year after Eurovision". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2013. "Over the past several years, Azerbaijan has become increasingly authoritarian, as the authorities have used tactics such as harassment, intimidation, blackmail, attack and imprisonment to silence the regime's critics, whether journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders, political activists, or ordinary people taking to the streets in protest."
135. ^ McGuinness, Damien (28 May 2013). "Cracking down on dissent in Ilham Aliyev's Azerbaijan". BBC News. Archived from the original on 11 June 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013. "But according to human rights groups, the charges are trumped up - an authoritarian government's attempt to stamp out any Arab Spring-style uprising, they say."
136. ^ Herron, Erik S. (2011). "Measuring Dissent in Electoral Authoritarian Societies: Lessons From Azerbaijan's 2008 Presidential Election and 2009 Referendum". Comparative Political Studies. 44 (11): 1557–1583. doi:10.1177/0010414011410171. ISSN 0010-4140. S2CID 154879120. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
137. ^ "Everything you need to know about human rights in Azerbaijan". www.amnesty.org. Archived from the original on 20 January 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
138. ^ "World Report 2021: Rights Trends in Azerbaijan". Human Rights Watch. 10 December 2020. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
139. ^ a b "TIGHTENING THE SCREWS. Azerbaijan's Crackdown on Civil Society and Dissent 2013" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 March 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
140. ^ Turp-Balazs, Craig (17 March 2021). "Alexander Lukashenko is a dictator, but he is not Europe's last". Emerging Europe. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
141. ^ Neukirch, Ralf (4 January 2012). "A Dictator's Dream: Azerbaijan Seeks to Burnish Image Ahead of Eurovision". Der Spiegel. ISSN 2195-1349. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
142. ^ Rubin, Michael (22 October 2021). "Azerbaijan's Aliyev is a Strategic Liability, Not an Asset". The National Interest. Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
143. ^ "French court backs media description of Aliyev as a "dictator" | The Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin". Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
144. ^ "Autocrats Take Advantage of Coronavirus". Council on Foreign Relations. Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
145. ^ https://www.pressreader.com/ukraine/kyiv-post/20211015/page/1. Archived from the original on 8 April 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022 - via PressReader. `{{cite web}}`: Missing or empty `|title=` (help)
146. ^ Azerbaijan's president aims to finish off the political opposition Archived 2 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine, Editorial Board, Washington Post, 29/07/20
147. ^ Azerbaijan's Despotic Ruler Throws 'Tantrum' In Unprecedented Crackdown On Pro-Democracy Rivals Archived 9 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine, RFE/RL, By Ron Synovitz, 30 July 2020
148. ^ "Blunder in Budapest". The Economist. 4 September 2012. ISSN 0013-0613. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
149. ^ "Safarov's interrogation". budapest.sumgait.info. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
150. ^ "Azeri killer Ramil Safarov: Concern over Armenian anger". BBC News. 3 September 2012. Archived from the original on 21 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2012. "Ramil Safarov was given a hero's welcome on his return to Azerbaijan last week."
151. ^ "Armenia Protests Killer's Pardon; Baku Promotes Him". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Archived from the original on 12 October 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
152. ^ Kucera, Joshua (9 July 2021). "Azerbaijan steps up talk of peace deal with Armenia". Eurasianet. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2024. "But Aliyev's supposed peace offering [with Armenia] contained the usual insults, calling into question how sincere Baku might actually be"
153. ^ Adams, William Lee (11 March 2012). "How Armenia and Azerbaijan Wage War Through Eurovision". Time. Archived from the original on 7 February 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
154. ^ "Armenia pulls out of Azerbaijan-hosted Eurovision show". BBC News. 7 March 2012. Archived from the original on 5 June 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
155. ^ "Official web-site of President of Azerbaijan Republic - NEWS» Speeches Speech by Ilham Aliyev at the opening of the Guba genocide memorial established with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation". en.president.az. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
156. ^ "Azerbaijani president: Armenians are guests in Yerevan". REGNUM News Agency J. 17 January 2008. Archived from the original on 12 June 2009.
157. ^ "Karabakh". Archived from the original on 11 June 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
158. ^ "President Ilham Aliyev's statement on Nagorno-Karabakh". Archived from the original on 5 September 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
159. ^ "Whoever does not want to become our citizen, road is not closed, it is open – President Ilham Aliyev". Trend.Az. 10 January 2023. Archived from the original on 10 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
160. ^ "Ильхам Алиев – армянам Карабаха: принимайте гражданство Азербайджана или уезжайте". BBC News Русская служба (in Russian). Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
161. ^ a b ahmedbeyli, samira (19 April 2023). "Ilham Aliyev: "Either they will live under the flag of Azerbaijan, or they will leave"". English Jamnews. Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
162. ^ "Ilham Aliyev was interviewed by Azerbaijan Television in city of Salyan » Official web-site of President of Azerbaijan Republic". president.az. Archived from the original on 12 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023. "I am sure most of the Armenian population currently living in Karabakh is ready to accept Azerbaijani citizenship. Simply put, these leeches, these predatory animals, won't let them do that. They won't let these people live comfortably, having kept them as hostages for 30 years."
163. ^ Marina KALJURAND; Andrey KOVATCHEV; Željana ZOVKO; European Parliament (30 July 2021). "Joint Statement by DSCA Chair and EP Standing Rapporteurs on Armenia and Azerbaijan on the deadly clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
164. ^ "Genocide Warning: Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh", Genocide Watch, 23 September 2022, archived from the original on 27 February 2023, retrieved 3 January 2023
165. ^ "Genocide Warning: Nagorno Karabakh". 120,000 people are under siege. Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
166. ^ "Red Flag Alert for Genocide – Azerbaijan Update 4". Lemkin Institute. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
167. ^ Chidiac, Gerry (9 February 2023). "World stands by in the face of the Second Armenian Genocide". Troy Media. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
168. ^ Rhodes, January (31 January 2023). "Museum Statement: Artsakh Crisis". Illinois Holocaust Museum. Archived from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
169. ^ Gregorian, Alin K. (20 December 2022). "Difficult Road Ahead for Karabakh and Armenia". The Armenian Mirror-Spectator. Archived from the original on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
170. ^ "Azerbaijani activists end Nagorno-Karabakh sit-in as Baku tightens grip on region". POLITICO. 28 April 2023. Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023. "France's foreign minister has joined international observers in warning of the risk of 'ethnic cleansing' in the breakaway region."
171. ^ "Against Backdrop of Baku's Ongoing Blockade of Lachin Corridor, Menendez Blasts Commerce Plans to Permit Export of Lethal Weapons to Azerbaijan | United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations". www.foreign.senate.gov. 2 February 2023. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023. "Today, Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh face an acute humanitarian crisis, threats of ethnic cleansing, and chronic shortages of water, energy, healthcare, and food."
172. ^ Tağıyev, Anar (14 August 2021). "Prezident İlham Əliyev: "Mən doğrudan da yenə bu sualı vermək istəyirəm: Bəs, nə oldu Paşinyan?!"" (in Azerbaijani). Report News Agency. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
173. ^ de Waal, Thomas (11 February 2021). "Unfinished Business in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict". Carnegie Europe. Archived from the original on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
174. ^ "Top International Lawyer Calls Azerbaijani Blockade Of Nagorno-Karabakh Genocide". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (in Armenian). 9 August 2023. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. "'...there is reasonable basis to believe that President Aliyev has Genocidal intentions: he has knowingly, willingly and voluntarily blockaded the Lachin Corridor even after having been placed on notice regarding the consequences of his actions by the ICJ's provisional orders,' the founding prosecutor of the International Criminal Court wrote in his conclusion."
175. ^ Ocampo, Luis Moreno (11 August 2023). "Starvation as a Means of Genocide: Azerbaijan's Blockade of the Lachin Corridor Between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh – Just Security". justsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023.
176. ^ "Risk Factors and Indicators of the Crime of Genocide in the Republic of Artsakh: Applying the UN Framework of Analysis for Atrocity Crimes to the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict" (PDF). The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 September 2023. "President Aliyev's intention to commit genocide against the Armenian of Nagorno-Karabakh "should be deduced from his informed, voluntary and antagonistic decisions with full disregard of the International Court of Justice orders....President Aliyev's public statements, coupled with his government's openly Armenophobic practices, clearly display the Azerbaijani regime's goal to completely eliminate the ethnic Armenian community residing in Artsakh, striving to eradicate any Armenian presence from the region. These verbalized aspirations, frequently translated into legal measures and manifested through the cited criminal acts detailed in this report, meet the criteria for the essential intent necessary for classifying these actions as genocidal."
177. ^ a b c d Rubin, Michael. Azerbaijan’s Aliyev Is a Strategic Liability, Not an Asset Archived 3 November 2023 at the Wayback Machine in The National Interest, 22 October 2021, via aei.org, American Enterprise Institute, Washington, DC. Accessed 28 September 2023.
178. ^ Узел, Кавказский. "Власти Армении возмутились словами Алиева об исторических землях Азербайджана". Кавказский Узел (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 25 June 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023. ""Erivan is our historical land, and we, Azerbaijanis, must return to these lands. This is our political and strategic goal, and we must gradually approach it"."
179. ^ "Meeting of Security Council under chairmanship of Ilham Aliyev was held". Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
180. ^ a b "Official web-site of President of Azerbaijan Republic - PRESIDENT » Biography". en.president.az. Archived from the original on 20 January 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
181. ^ "Nikolić ordenja deli u tri smene". 26 November 2015. Archived from the original on 19 October 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
182. ^ "Токаев наградил орденом президента Азербайджана". www.nur.kz. 24 August 2022. Archived from the original on 24 August 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
183. ^ Ильхам Алиев награжден высшими наградами Совета командующих пограничными войсками СНГ (in Russian). Regionplus.az. Archived from the original on 11 August 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
184. ^ "Eighth Summit of the Organization of Turkic States was held in Istanbul". Turkic Council. 12 November 2021. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
185. ^ "Ilham Aliyev". World Economic Forum. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ilham Aliyev.

Wikiquote has quotations related to Ilham Aliyev.

* Official Azerbaijan president website
* BBC profile: Ilham Aliyev
* Political portrait of Ilham Aliyev
* Ilham Aliyev and oil diplomacy of Azerbaijan Archived 9 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine
* Appearances on C-SPAN

* v
* t
* e

Ilham Aliyev

* 4th President of Azerbaijan (2003–present)
* 7th Prime Minister of Azerbaijan (4 August – 31 October 2003)

Presidency|

* 2003 presidential election
* 2008 presidential election
* 2013 presidential election
* 2018 presidential election
* 2024 presidential election
* Presidential trips

Ilham Aliyev

Family|

* Heydar Aliyev‎ (father)
* Zarifa Aliyeva‎ (mother)
* Jalal Aliyev (uncle)
* Mehriban Aliyev‎a (wife)
* Leyla Aliyeva‎ (daughter)
* Arzu Aliyeva‎ (daughter)
* Heydar Aliyev Jr. (son)

See also|

* 2009 constitutional referendum
* Eurovision Song Contest 2012
* Launching of Azerspace-1/Africasat-1a
* Halting of the Khazar Islands Project
* 2015 European Games
* 2016 Azerbaijani constitutional referendum
* Azerbaijan Grand Prix
* 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games
* Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline
* Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway
* 2012 Armenian–Azerbaijani border clashes
* Ramil Safarov repatriation
* 2014 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes
* 2014 Armenian Mil Mi-24 shootdown
* 2016 April clashes
* Gyunnut Operation
* Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline
* Convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea
* 2020 Tovuz clashes
* Second Nagorno-Karabakh War
* 2020 Russian Mil Mi-24 shootdown
* 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement
* 2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh

Category:Ilham Aliyev

* v
* t
* e

Leaders of Azerbaijan since 1918

Azerbaijan Democratic Republic|

Heads of Parliament (1918-1920)

* Mammad Amin Rasulzadeh
* Alimardan Topchubashov

Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic
(1920-1991)|

First secretaries of the Central Committee of the Azerbaijan Communist Party (1920-1991)

* Mirza Davud Huseynov (1920)
* Viktor Naneyshvily (1920)
* Elena Stasova (1920)
* Vladimir Dumbadze (1920)
* Grigory Kaminsky (1920–1921)
* Sergei Kirov (1921–1925)
* Ruhulla Akhundov (1925–1926)
* Levon Mirzoyan (1926–1929)
* Nikolai Gikalo (1929–1930)
* Vladimir Polonsky (1930–1933)
* Ruben Rubenov (1933)
* Mir Jafar Baghirov (1933–1953)
* Mir Teymur Yagubov (1953–1954)
* Imam Mustafayev (1954–1959)
* Vali Akhundov (1959–1969)
* Heydar Aliyev (1969–1982)
* Kamran Baghirov (1982–1988)
* Abdurrahman Vazirov (1988–1990)
* Ayaz Mutallibov (1990–1991)

Republic of Azerbaijan
(1991-present)|

Presidents of Azerbaijan Republic (1991-)

* Ayaz Mutallibov
* Yagub Mammadova
* Ayaz Mutallibov
* Isa Gambara
* Abulfaz Elchibey
* Heydar Aliyev
* Ilham Aliyev

(a) Denotes acting

* v
* t
* e

Prime ministers of Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan Democratic Republic|

* Fatali Khan Khoyski
* Nasib Yusifbeyli

Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic|

* Mirza Davud Huseynov
* Nariman Narimanov
* Gazanfar Musabekov
* Dadash Bunyadzade
* Mir Jafar Baghirov
* Huseyn Rahmanov
* Teymur Guliyev
* Mir Jafar Baghirov
* Teymur Guliyev
* Sadykh Rahimov
* Vali Akhundov
* Mammad Isgandarov
* Anvar Alikhanov
* Ali Ibrahimov
* Hasan Seyidov
* Ayaz Mutallibov
* Hasan Hasanov

Republic of Azerbaijan|

* Hasan Hasanov
* Firuz Mustafayev *
* Rahim Huseynov
* Ali Masimov *
* Panah Huseynov
* Surat Huseynov
* Fuad Guliyev
* Artur Rasizade
* Ilham Aliyev
* Artur Rasizade
* Novruz Mammadov
* Ali Asadov

* Denotes acting

* v
* t
* e

Current heads of state of republics

Africa|

* Abdelmadjid Tebboune
* João Lourenço
* Patrice Talon
* Mokgweetsi Masisi
* Ibrahim Traoré*
* Évariste Ndayishimiye
* Paul Biya
* José Maria Neves
* Faustin-Archange Touadéra
* Mahamat Déby*
* Azali Assoumani
* Félix Tshisekedi
* Denis Sassou Nguesso
* Ismaïl Omar Guelleh
* Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
* Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo
* Isaias Afwerki
* Sahle-Work Zewde
* Brice Oligui*
* Adama Barrow
* Nana Akufo-Addo
* Mamady Doumbouya*
* Umaro Sissoco Embaló
* Alassane Ouattara
* William Ruto
* Joseph Boakai
* Mohamed al-Menfi*
* Andry Rajoelina
* Lazarus Chakwera
* Assimi Goïta*
* Mohamed Ould Ghazouani
* Prithvirajsing Roopun
* Filipe Nyusi
* Nangolo Mbumba
* Abdourahamane Tchiani*
* Bola Tinubu
* Paul Kagame
* Brahim Ghali
* Carlos Vila Nova
* Macky Sall
* Wavel Ramkalawan
* Julius Maada Bio
* Muse Bihi Abdi
* Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
* Cyril Ramaphosa
* Salva Kiir Mayardit
* Transitional Sovereignty Council*
* Samia Suluhu Hassan
* Faure Gnassingbé
* Kais Saied
* Yoweri Museveni
* Hakainde Hichilema
* Emmerson Mnangagwa

Asia|

* Aslan Bzhania
* Vahagn Khachaturyan
* Ilham Aliyev
* Mohammed Shahabuddin
* Xi Jinping
* José Ramos-Horta
* Droupadi Murmu
* Joko Widodo
* Ali Khamenei
* Abdul Latif Rashid
* Isaac Herzog
* Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
* Sadyr Japarov
* Thongloun Sisoulith
* Najib Mikati*
* Mohamed Muizzu
* Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh
* Myint Swe*
* Ram Chandra Poudel
* Kim Jong Un
* Arif Alvi
* Mahmoud Abbas
* Bongbong Marcos
* Tharman Shanmugaratnam
* Yoon Suk Yeol
* Alan Gagloev
* Ranil Wickremesinghe
* Bashar al-Assad
* Tsai Ing-wen
* Emomali Rahmon
* Serdar Berdimuhamedow
* Shavkat Mirziyoyev
* Võ Văn Thưởng
* Rashad al-Alimi*

Europe|

* Bajram Begaj
* Alexander Van der Bellen
* Alexander Lukashenko
* Denis Bećirović, Željka Cvijanović and Željko Komšić
* Rumen Radev
* Zoran Milanović
* Nikos Christodoulides
* Petr Pavel
* Alar Karis
* Sauli Niinistö
* Emmanuel Macron
* Salome Zourabichvili
* Frank-Walter Steinmeier
* Katerina Sakellaropoulou
* Katalin Novák
* Guðni Th. Jóhannesson
* Michael D. Higgins
* Sergio Mattarella
* Vjosa Osmani
* Edgars Rinkēvičs
* Gitanas Nausėda
* George Vella
* Maia Sandu
* Jakov Milatović
* Stevo Pendarovski
* Ersin Tatar
* Andrzej Duda
* Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
* Klaus Iohannis
* Vladimir Putin
* Filippo Tamagnini and Gaetano Troina
* Aleksandar Vučić
* Zuzana Čaputová
* Nataša Pirc Musar
* Viola Amherd, Karin Keller-Sutter, Guy Parmelin, Ignazio Cassis, Albert Rösti, Élisabeth Baume-Schneider, and Beat Jans
* Vadim Krasnoselsky
* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
* Volodymyr Zelenskyy

North America|

* Sandra Mason
* Rodrigo Chaves Robles
* Miguel Díaz-Canel
* Sylvanie Burton
* Luis Abinader
* Nayib Bukele
* Bernardo Arévalo
* Ariel Henry*
* Xiomara Castro
* Andrés Manuel López Obrador
* Daniel Ortega
* Laurentino Cortizo
* Christine Kangaloo
* Joe Biden

South America|

* Javier Milei
* Luis Arce
* Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
* Gabriel Boric
* Gustavo Petro
* Daniel Noboa
* Irfaan Ali
* Santiago Peña
* Dina Boluarte
* Chan Santokhi
* Luis Lacalle Pou
* Nicolás Maduro

Oceania|

* Wiliame Katonivere
* Taneti Maamau
* David Kabua
* David Panuelo
* David Adeang
* Surangel Whipps Jr.
* Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II
* Nikenike Vurobaravu

* v
* t
* e

ECO leaders

* Hibatullah Akhundzada (de facto)
* Ilham Aliyev
* Ali Khamenei
* Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
* Sadyr Japarov
* Shehbaz Sharif
* Emomali Rahmon
* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
* Serdar Berdimuhamedow
* Shavkat Mirziyoyev

* v
* t
* e

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Background|

* Nagorno-Karabakh
* History
* Armenian–Azerbaijani war (1918–1920)
* Deportation of Azerbaijanis from Armenia
* Dissolution of the Soviet Union
* Karabakh movement
* Miatsum
* Armenians in Azerbaijan
* Armenians in Baku
* Azerbaijanis in Armenia
* Anti-Armenian sentiment in Azerbaijan
* Armenia–Azerbaijan relations

First war (1988–1994)|

* Çardaqlı clash
* Askeran clash
* Sumgait pogrom
* Gugark pogrom
* Zvartnots Airport clash
* Shusha and Stepanakert pogroms
* Kirovabad pogrom
* Il-76 crash near Leninakan (1988)
* Baku pogrom
* Black January
* Bağanis Ayrum
* 1990 Tbilisi–Agdam bus bombing
* Operation Ring
* Voskepar massacre
* Battle of Togh
* 1991 Azerbaijani Mil Mi-8 shootdown
* Law on Abolishment of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast
* Siege of Stepanakert
* Operation Dashalty
* 1992 Azerbaijani Mil Mi-8 shootdown
* Capture of Gushchular and Malibeyli
* Capture of Garadaghly
* Khojaly massacre
* Maraga massacre
* Capture of Shusha
* Capture of Artsvashen
* Operation Goranboy
* Mardakert and Martuni Offensives
* Operation Həsənqaya
* Battle of Lachin
* Operation Qazançı
* 1993 Azerbaijani coup d'état
* Battle of Kalbajar
* Battle of Aghdam
* 1993 Summer Offensives
* Operation Geghamasar
* Operation Horadiz
* Operation Kalbajar
* 1994 Baku Metro bombings
* 1994 Iranian Air Force C-130 shootdown
* 1994 Bagratashen bombing
* Refugees in Azerbaijan

Interwar clashes|

* 2008 Mardakert clashes
* January 2009 Agdam military incident
* September 2009 Agdam military incident
* 2010 Nagorno-Karabakh clashes
* 2010 Mardakert clashes
* 2012 Armenian–Azerbaijani border clashes
* 2014 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes
* 2014 Armenian Mil Mi-24 shootdown
* 2016 Odundağ clashes
* 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
* 2017 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
* Shelling of Alxanlı
* 2018 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes
* 2019 clash near Chinari
* July 2020 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes
* Incidents
* Protests in Azerbaijan
* Reactions

Second war (2020)|

* Timeline
* Casualties
* International reactions
* Allegations of third-party involvement
* Madagiz offensive
* Aras Valley campaign
* Bombardments (Barda, Ganja, Ghazanchetsots Cathedral, Martuni, Stepanakert, Tartar)
* Battle of Hadrut
* Lachin offensive
* Battle of Shusha
* Russian Mil Mi-24 shootdown
* War crimes
* Treatment of Armenian POWs

Post-ceasefire events|

* Azerbaijan's construction in gained areas
* 2020–2021 Armenian protests
* Chaylaggala and Hin Tagher
* Border crisis
* September 2022 escalation
* Susuzluq
* Shusha
* Farukh
* 2022 Armenian protests
* Blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh
* 2023 Azerbaijani offensive
* Protests in Armenia
* Flight of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians
* Berkadzor fuel depot explosion

Main locations|

* Administrative divisions of the Republic of Artsakh
* Stepanakert
* Askeran Province
* Hadrut Province
* Kashatagh Province
* Martakert Province
* Martuni Province
* Shahumyan Province
* Shushi Province
* Armenian-occupied territories
* Aghdam District
* Fuzuli District
* Jabrayil District
* Kalbajar District
* Lachin District
* Lachin corridor
* Qubadli District
* Zangilan District

Political leaders|

* Armenia
* Levon Ter-Petrosyan
* Robert Kocharyan
* Serzh Sargsyan
* Nikol Pashinyan

* Republic of Artsakh
* Artur Mkrtchyan
* Robert Kocharyan
* Leonard Petrosyan
* Arkadi Ghukasyan
* Bako Sahakyan
* Arayik Harutyunyan
* Samvel Shahramanyan

* Azerbaijan
* Ayaz Mutallibov
* Abulfaz Elchibey
* Heydar Aliyev
* Ilham Aliyev
* Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabakh
* Bayram Safarov
* Nizami Bahmanov
* Tural Ganjaliyev

* Russia
* Mikhail Gorbachev
* Boris Yeltsin
* Vladimir Putin

* Turkey
* Turgut Özal
* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

Military leaders|

* Armenia
* Vazgen Sargsyan
* Gurgen Dalibaltayan
* Norat Ter-Grigoryants
* Jirair Sefilian
* Tiran Khachatryan
* Seyran Ohanyan

* Republic of Artsakh
* Samvel Babayan
* Kristapor Ivanyan
* Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan
* Monte Melkonian
* Jalal Harutyunyan
* Mikael Arzumanyan

* Azerbaijan
* Isgandar Hamidov
* Rahim Gaziyev
* Surat Huseynov
* Valeh Barshadly
* Mais Barkhudarov
* Hikmat Mirzayev
* Hikmat Hasanov

* Russia
* Viktor Polyanichko
* Pavel Grachev
* Rustam Muradov

* Chechen Republic of Ichkeria
* Shamil Basayev

* Afghanistan
* Gulbuddin Hekmatyar

Peace process|

* Baker rules
* Bishkek Protocol
* Tehran Communiqué
* Zheleznovodsk Communiqué
* OSCE Minsk Group
* Prague Process
* Madrid Principles
* 2020 ceasefire agreement
* 2020–2024 monitoring and peacekeeping
* Russia
* OSCE
* EU
* EUMCAP Oct–Dec 2022
* EUPAT Dec 2022–Jan 2023
* EUMA Feb 2023–present
* 2023 ceasefire agreement

International documents|

* Astrakhan Declaration
* Nagorno-Karabakh Declaration
* NATO Lisbon Summit Declaration
* OIC Resolution 10/11
* OIC Resolution 10/37
* PACE Resolution 1416
* PACE Resolution 2085
* UNGA Resolution 48/114
* UNGA Resolution 60/285
* UNGA Resolution 62/243
* UNSC resolutions
* 822
* 853
* 874
* 884

* v
* t
* e

Leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States

* Aliyev
* Pashinyan
* Lukashenko
* Tokayev
* Japarov
* Sandu
* Putin
* Rahmon
* Berdimuhamedow
* Mirziyoyev

* v
* t
* e

Leaders of the GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development

* Salome Zourabichvili
* Volodymyr Zelenskyy
* Ilham Aliyev
* Maia Sandu

* v
* t
* e

Chairs of the Non-Aligned Movement

* Tito
* Nasser
* Kaunda
* Boumédiène
* Gopallawa
* Jayewardene
* F. Castro
* Reddy
* Singh
* Mugabe
* Drnovšek
* Jović
* Mesić
* Kostić
* Ćosić
* Suharto
* Samper
* Pastrana
* Mandela
* Mbeki
* Mahathir
* Abdullah
* F. Castro
* R. Castro
* Mubarak
* Tantawi
* Morsi
* Ahmadinejad
* Rouhani
* Maduro
* Aliyev

Portals:

* Biography
* Azerbaijan

Authority control databases

International|

* FAST
* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* France
* BnF data
* Germany
* Israel
* United States
* Sweden
* Latvia
* Czech Republic
* Poland

People|

* Deutsche Biographie

Other|

* IdRef

*[m.]: married
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template