Ilham Aliyev

Ilham Heydar oghlu Aliyev entered the world on December 24, 1961, in Baku. He now serves as the fourth president of Azerbaijan, a role he has held continuously since 2003. His political path began within his own family, as the son of former president Heydar Aliyev. Ilham briefly acted as prime minister under his father before stepping into the presidential chair following a vote marred by reported irregularities just days before his father died. Since taking office, he has led the New Azerbaijan Party, which he took over in 2005. His grip on power solidified through a series of re-elections in 2008, 2013, 2018, and most recently in 2024. A 2009 constitutional referendum removed term limits, allowing him to run indefinitely. While his wife, Mehriban Aliyeva, holds the position of vice president since 2017, the family has built an extensive economic empire alongside their political control. Oil wealth has fueled this stability, enabling lavish international events and significant lobbying efforts abroad. Reports indicate the family holds major stakes in banks, construction firms, telecommunications companies, and the oil and gas sector. Critics and investigative groups have raised serious concerns about his rule. The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project named him Person of the Year in 2012 due to corruption stories linked to his administration. Further revelations in 2017 exposed involvement in the Azerbaijani laundromat, a scheme designed to pay off European politicians and shape a positive image for his regime. Observers widely classify his government as authoritarian, citing pervasive corruption, human rights violations, and the suppression of free elections. Domestically, his leadership saw shifts in religious policy aimed at promoting Sunni Islam while suppressing Shia practices to align closer with Turkey. The period also featured intense pressure on journalists and non-governmental organizations. Internationally, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict escalated during his tenure. After a war in 2020 and a military offensive in 2023, forces expelled all Armenians from the region and reincorporated the territory into Azerbaijan.[edit]