Ilham Heydar oghlu Aliyev[a] (born 24 December 1961) is an Azerbaijani politician who has been the fourthpresident of Azerbaijan since 2003. He has been the leader of theNew Azerbaijan Party since 2005.
He is the son of former Azerbaijani presidentHeydar Aliyev and became the country's president on 31 October 2003 after a two-month term as theprime minister of Azerbaijan, througha presidential election defined by irregularities, shortly before his father's death. Ilham Aliyev was re-elected for a second term in2008 and was allowed to run in elections indefinitely in2013,2018 and2024 due to the2009 constitutional referendum, which removed term limits for presidents. He is also the husband ofMehriban Aliyeva, Vice President of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan's oil-rich territory has significantly strengthened the stability of Aliyev's regime and enriched the nation's ruling elite, enabling it to host lavish international events, as well as engage in extensivelobbying efforts. Aliyev's family has also enriched itself through ties to state-run businesses. They hold significant stakes in several major Azerbaijani banks, construction and telecommunications companies, as well as in the country’s oil and gas sector. In 2012, Aliyev was named the "Person of the Year" byOrganized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project for featuring prominently in stories on crime and corruption.[1] In 2017, it was revealed that Aliyev and his family were involved in theAzerbaijani laundromat, a complexmoney-laundering scheme to pay off prominent European politicians to deflect criticism of Aliyev and promote a positive image of his regime.
In 1999, Ilham Aliyev was elected as the deputy chair of the rulingNew Azerbaijan Party and in 2001, he was elected to the post of first deputy chair at the Second Congress of the Party.[18] 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.[19]
In 2002, aconstitutional referendum in Azerbaijan made theprime minister next in line for the presidency if the president became incapacitated. By early 2003, Heydar Aliyev's health had significantly declined, fueling speculation about his ability to continue serving office.[21]
On 4 August 2003, Ilham Aliyev, his son, was appointed prime minister amidst his Heydar's illness, absence from public life, and rumours of his death, a move that many saw as preparing him to eventually succeed his father as president.[13][22][23] After his appointment, Ilham Aliyev dismissed the rumours about his Heydar's death, emphasizing his father's recovery in a televised address.
Ilham Aliyev's appointment as prime minister was confirmed by a National Assembly vote, with 101 out of 125 deputies supporting his nomination. However, opposition parties boycotted the vote, expressing concerns that this move was part of an effort to establish a political dynasty and limit democratic processes. They argued that Ilham's appointment was an attempt to maintain power within the Aliyev family, bypassing a more open and competitive political system.[24][25][26]
During his brief tenure as prime minister, Ilham Aliyev focused on continuing policies implemented by Heydar, particularly in terms of Azerbaijan's economy and foreign relations. He assured both the public and international community that there would be no significant changes in government direction. Despite this, the opposition criticized the appointment, calling it an "undemocratic power grab". Observers also pointed to the ongoing concentration of power within the ruling elite as a concern for Azerbaijan's political future.[27]
Ilham Aliyev sought for the presidency in theOctober 2003 election, but Azerbaijan's election law prohibited him from doing so while serving as prime minister. As a result, he remained in the position, but his duties were temporarily assumed byArtur Rasizade, who became acting prime minister following Aliyev's leave of absence on 6 August 2003.[28] This arrangement allowed Aliyev to focus on his presidential campaign while retaining his position as prime minister until the election.[29]
The official results of the 15 October 2003 elections gave victory to Ilham Aliyev, who earned 76.84% of the votes.[30] The election was defined by election fraud.[31][32][33][13]Human Rights Watch and theInstitute 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.[32][33] Despite these allegations, Aliyev was inaugurated as President of Azerbaijan on 31 October 2003. Following his inauguration, Aliyev appointedArtur Rasizade as Prime Minister, whose nomination was approved by the parliament on 4 November 2003. Rasizade had previously held the position of Prime Minister under Aliyev's father, Heydar Aliyev, and continued to serve in an acting capacity.
Aliyev worked to consolidate his power both politically and economically. One of his first major actions was the creation of the "Foundation for Combating Corruption in Azerbaijan" in 2004. This initiative was aimed at addressing widespread corruption within government institutions and improving public sector accountability. Despite the establishment of this foundation, critics argued that the reforms were insufficient, and corruption remained prevalent within the ruling elite.
In the energy sector, Aliyev focused on solidifying Azerbaijan's role as an important player in the global oil market. A key milestone in his first term was the completion of theBaku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline in May 2005.[34] This major infrastructure project allowed Azerbaijan to export oil to international markets, particularly to Europe and the United States, and significantly boosted the country's economic profile. The pipeline further reinforced Azerbaijan's strategic importance as an energy supplier, linking theCaspian Sea region to the global market while bypassing Russia and Iran.
Politically, Aliyev faced significant challenges from opposition groups, particularly in the2005 parliamentary elections. The elections were marred by widespread allegations of fraud, electoral malpractice, and the restriction of opposition parties’ activities.[35] Despite the opposition's gains in certain regions, the elections were widely considered unfair. Protests erupted in response to the results, with demonstrators accusing the government of rigging the vote.[36] However, the protests were quickly suppressed by the government's security forces, and many opposition leaders were arrested. Aliyev's government responded by tightening control over the media and cracking down on dissent.[37]
Ilham Aliyev wasre-elected in 2008 with 87% of the vote. Seven candidates registered to run, each required to gather 40,000 voter signatures.[38] According to the European Parliament Election Observation Delegation, the election was conducted without major unrest and with only minor procedural issues. The delegation acknowledged reforms to the Electoral Code, such as the use of ink to prevent repeat voting, improved transparency in voter lists, and legal provisions limiting government involvement in the electoral process.[39] During the 2008 election, theParliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) included members with differing views. A draft statement by delegation head Andreas Herkel, which contained critical remarks, was not adopted after opposition from several members including Michael Hancock, Eduard Lintner, and Paul Ville. Herkel reportedly offered to resign if the delegation’s findings were not fully reflected.
In March 2009, aconstitutional referendum under Aliyev's administration removed presidential term limits, allowing him to seek re-election indefinitely. This move was praised by some PACE delegates as a step towards democratic development but raised serious concerns from the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission and the European Commission about the potential consolidation of executive power and erosion of democratic safeguards.[40] The referendum was conducted without broad public consultation, drawing criticism from opposition parties who argued it violated both domestic constitutional norms and Azerbaijan’s international commitments.[41]
During Aliyev's second term, Azerbaijan experienced significantpro-democracy protests in 2011, as citizens demanded political reforms, economic changes, the release of political detainees and resignation of Aliyev.[42] The government responded with force, dispersing protests and detaining hundreds, which prompted condemnation from numerous international human rights organizations for restricting peaceful assembly and curtailing media freedoms.[43]
Economically, Azerbaijan’s growth during this period remained heavily dependent on its oil and gas sector. However, concerns were raised byGlobal Witness and other watchdogs about governance and transparency in the energy sector, including allegations of mismanagement of revenues and the use of offshore financial mechanisms.[44]
In the2013 presidential elections held on 9 October, Aliyev claimed victory with 85 percent of the vote, securing a third five-year term.[45] The election results were accidentally released before the polls opened.[46] 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.[47] 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.[48] 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, includingJamil Hasanli in second place, were from the 2013 ballot.[49] Aliyev's main rivals in the election were Jamil Hasanli and Iqbal Agazade.[citation needed] Observers from theOSCE /ODIHR spoke of restrictions on freedom of speech during elections.[50][51] The US State Department described the elections as not meeting international standards, and expressing solidarity with the ODIHR's assessment.[52] In 2013,Amnesty International called on western leaders to speak up against the arrest ofAnar 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.[53] There was a controversy over election observers who had allegedly been paid by the Azerbaijani regime through theAzerbaijani laundromat scandal. A German former lawmakerEduard 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 money laundering scheme.[54][55] According to theOCCRP, there is "ample evidence of its connection to the family of President Aliyev."[54]
Before the start of a trilateral meeting. Left to right:Hassan Rouhani, Ilham Aliyev, andVladimir Putin, 8 August 2016
Economically, Aliyev's third term was significantly affected by asharp decline in global oil prices beginning in 2014, severely impacting Azerbaijan's oil-dependent economy.[56] The resulting drop in government revenues contributed to inflation and depreciation of the national currency, themanat.[57] In response, the government pursued diversification efforts, targeting agriculture, tourism, and information technology sectors, though hydrocarbons remained the dominant economic force.[58][59] Notably, theSouthern Gas Corridor project advanced substantially during this period, aiming to boost Azerbaijan's role as an energy supplier to Europe through pipelines such as TANAP and TAP.[60]
Politically, the Aliyev administration maintained a firm grip on power, continuing to restrict political freedoms and civil society. Opposition parties faced repression, with numerous arrests of journalists, activists, and dissidents. While the government justified these measures as necessary to ensure stability and combat corruption, international watchdogs like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International criticized these practices as severe setbacks to democratic development.[11][12]
Social unrest surfaced intermittently, includingprotests in 2016 across Baku and other cities, calling for political reform and improved economic conditions. These demonstrations were met with police crackdowns. Labour strikes and protests over unpaid wages and poor working conditions further highlighted underlying social and economic grievances.[61]
The longstandingNagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia remained unresolved. Despite ongoing negotiations under the OSCE Minsk Group, ceasefire violations persisted, culminating in a notable escalation in April 2016 known as theFour-Day War. Azerbaijani forces sought to regain territory, leading to significant casualties before a ceasefire was reinstated.[62] Aliyev consistently emphasized Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and advocated for a peaceful resolution respecting its sovereignty.[63]
Ilham Aliyev got 86.02% of votes in the 2018 presidential election.[64] Major opposition parties did not participate in the election,[65] and evidence indicates that the election was fraudulent.[66][67]
In January 2019, thousands rallied in Baku calling for the release of political prisoners like blogger Mehman Huseynov, in a permitted protest organized by the National Council of Democratic Forces. Protests escalated in October 2019, with peaceful demonstrations on the 8th, 19th, and 20th triggered by demands for fair elections, economic justice, and greater political freedoms. Police forcibly dispersed crowds, detained approximately 60 protesters including opposition leader Ali Karimli, and cracked down on women's rights activists on 20 October.
In 2020, amid theCOVID-19 pandemic, the government enacted emergency measures that critics said were used to suppress dissent and limit civil liberties. Later that year, Azerbaijani forces regained territories in theSecond Nagorno-Karabakh War, followed by a high‑profile Victory Parade in December, attended by Turkish PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdoğan, and signaling strengthened ties with Ankara Crisis Group. Throughout his term, Aliyev pursued economic diversification, expanding agriculture, tourism, logistics, and small‑business sectors, while major energy infrastructure projects like the Southern Gas Corridor continued as core state priorities Wikipediahrw.org.
From late 2023 into 2024, authorities intensified repression of independent media. At least six journalists from outlets such asAbzas Media andToplum TV were arrested on smuggling or tax‑related charges, widely viewed as politically motivated. Journalist trials and detention conditions drew international condemnation, including allegations of ill‑treatment and torture.
Nagorno-Karabakh
As president, Aliyev has presided over two conflicts involving the region ofNagorno-Karabakh. TheSecond Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020 resulted in a ceasefire agreement that left Azerbaijani forces in control of significant portions of the territory which had been previously held by ethnic Armenians and the Republic of Armenia.[68] Anotheroffensive in 2023 resulted in the entire territory coming under Azerbaijani control.[69]
Azerbaijani foreign relations under Aliyev included strengthened cooperation with theEuropean Union (EU), strong economic ties withRussia, cooperation withNATO via the NATO–AzerbaijanIndividual Partnership Action Plan, and close relations with theOrganisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).[70] Using Azerbaijan's oil wealth, the Azerbaijani regime engages in extensive lobbying efforts, using complexmoney-laundering and bribery schemes discovered during theAzerbaijani laundromat scandal, such ascaviar diplomacy, to pay off prominent European politicians to deflect andwhitewash criticism of Aliyev and promote a positive image of his regime and gain support for Azerbaijani projects.[71][72]
In July 2025, Aliyev met with Armenian prime ministerNikol Pashinyan in the United Arab Emirates as part of peace negotiations between their countries.[75] On 8 August 2025, both leaders signed a peace agreement in a ceremony hosted by US presidentDonald Trump in theWhite House.[76]
Ilham Aliyev and President of the European CouncilCharles Michel inBrussels, Belgium (April 2022)
Ilham Aliyev expanded cooperation with theEuropean Union (EU) during his presidency, usingcaviar diplomacy as a controversial technique of persuading European officials to support Azerbaijani projects.[80] in 2004, Azerbaijan became part of theEuropean Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) of the EU.[81] In 2006, Aliyev andMatti Vanhanen, president of the European Council, andJosé Manuel Barroso, president of the commission, signed the Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Partnership.[82]
During 12–15 March 2017, Aliyev made an official visit to France[87] and met with executive officials of international companiesSUEZ,DCNS,CIFAL, Space Systems in theAirbus Defence and Space Division.[88][89][90] during a meeting with French entrepreneurs, he stated that the activities of some companies in theRepublic of Artsakh is "unacceptable and violates international and national laws".[91] Following his visit, Aliyev met with the French president in theElysee Palace.[92] French presidentFrançois 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."[93] During theSecond Nagorno-Karabakh War, in which France supported Azerbaijan's adversaryArmenia, Aliyev demanded that French presidentEmmanuel Macron apologize for accusing Azerbaijan of usingSyrian mercenaries.[94]
On 6 February 2004, Aliyev andVladimir Putin, the president of Russia, signed the Moscow Declaration, which stated principles of relations between Azerbaijan and Russia.[95] On 16 February 2005 Aliyev participated in the ceremony of opening the Year of Azerbaijan in Russia.[96] On 29 June 2006, Ilham Aliyev andDmitry Medvedev, former president of the Russian Federation, concluded a joint statement on theCaspian Sea.[97] In 2018, Aliyev and Putin signed Joint Statement on Priority Areas of Economic Cooperation between the two countries.[98][99] 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.[100] the trilateral summit signed a declaration to develop theInternational North–South Transport Corridor, which would run fromIndia toSaint Petersburg, providing better alternatives to existing sea routes.[101]
Aliyev withRecep Tayyip Erdoğan. NATO memberTurkey is a longtime ally of Azerbaijan.Ilham Aliyev and NATO Secretary GeneralJens Stoltenberg at a joint press conference in November 2017
During Aliyev's presidency, Azerbaijan joined theIndividual Partnership Action Plan. Azerbaijan has completed NATO-Azerbaijan Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) documents for three periods.[106] Ilham Aliyev introduced Azerbaijan's first IPAP to NATO in Brussels on 19 May 2014.[107]
On 10 January 2017 Ilham Aliyev announced 2017 as the year of Islamic Solidarity and allocated funds to organize the related events.[116][117] 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.[118][119]
Corruption
Corruption is rampant in Azerbaijan.[120][121][122][123][124] According to Transparency International, Azerbaijan scores just 30 on the Transparency InternationalCorruption 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".[124]
LGBT rights
Discrimination against LGBT people is severe in Azerbaijan.[125] In 2020,ILGA-Europe again declared Azerbaijan the worst country in all ofEurope for LGBT rights, with the country receiving a final score of just 2%.[126][127] Human rights activists have criticized Aliyev's record on LGBT rights.[125]
Aliyev with Israeli prime ministerBenyamin 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 ofeconomic growth in the three-year period from 2005–2007.[137] Azerbaijan's oil riches strengthened the stability of Aliyev's regime and enriched ruling elites in Azerbaijan.[138][139][140][141] However, periods of lowoil prices, as well asinflation, weakened the Azerbaijani economy[137][142] and slowed economic growth.[143] Aliyev continued theneopatrimonial system inherited from his father.[137] Azerbaijan's oligarchic system inhibited smaller businesses and blockedforeign investment outside thefossil fuels sector.[137] Persistent pledges by Aliyev and Azerbaijani elites to prioritizeeconomic diversification yielded few major results,[137] as the country remained largely depended on oil and gas.[142] TheInternational Monetary Fund has urged Azerbaijan to diversify its economy.[143] Efforts to economically liberalize were inhibited by the authorities' fear of political liberalization.[137]Currency devaluation has been another economic challenge under Aliyev's tenure.[137][142] 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.[144]
The secular government of Azerbaijan officially promoted Turkish-influenced Sufism over both Iranian-influenced Shia Islam and Arab-influenced Salafism, but maintained vigilance over religious activities of any sect.[8] Many Turkish missionaries in Azerbaijan directly worked for the Turkish government religious institutions.[145] There was another rise in conversions to Sunni Islam after the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, which was seen as a symbol of growing closeness with Turkey.[146]
When Azerbaijani Sunnis became a significant minority, many traditional Shia clerics accused Azerbaijani Sunnis of having shamelessly sold their ancestral religion merely for Turkish approval and only symbolically converting without actually believing in it.[147] Many Azerbaijani Shia clerics were pressured into political quietism or pragmatic collaboration with pro-state religious institutions.[148] Many religious Shia Azerbaijanis criticized the rise of Sunni Islam as a betrayal of the historically Shia identity of Azerbaijan and as a means of submission to Turkey after the Ottoman-Safavid conflict which lasted centuries. In 2018, an Azerbaijani Shia cleric stated that they were "trading Karbala for Ankara".[149]
Wealth and corruption
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.[150] The 2021Pandora 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.[151][152][153]
Aliyev family in 2018
Andrew Higgins, writing inThe Washington Post, stated in 2010 that Azerbaijanis with the same names as Ilham Aliyev's three children owned real estate inDubai 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.[154]
In 2012, theOrganized 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 filmFilthy Rich about corruption which also mentioned the Aliyev family.[155]
According to a 2013 investigation by theInternational Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), the Aliyev family owned at least four offshore companies directly connected with Hassan Gozal.[156] 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.[157][158] Investigation of Swedish television showed that offshore companies controlled by Aliyevs received fromTeliaSonera the Swedish telecommunications company, a factual bribe in the form of shares ofAzercell 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.[159][160][161] In a resolution on 10 September 2015, theEuropean Parliament called on the EU authorities to conduct a thorough investigation of allegations of corruption against Ilham Aliyev and his family members.[162]
JournalistKhadija Ismayilova, who worked for the United States government-fundedRadio 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.[163][164]
Aliyev and his wifeMehriban Aliyeva were described as the "embodiment of nepotism and kleptocracy" in Azerbaijan.[165]
Ismayilova was later detained in December 2014 and sentenced in September 2015 to 7½ 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 ofPaul Radu, a Romanian journalist who is co-founder and executive director of investigative reporting group OCCRP (theOrganized 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.[166][additional citation(s) needed]
Aliyev was also included on a list of figures (others being the Minister of Emergency SituationsKamaladdin Heydarov, head of the Presidential AdministrationRamiz Mehdiyev and First LadyMehriban Aliyeva) accused of accepting bribes of $1,000,000USD from MP candidates to guarantee their "election win" and inclusion to the parliament. This high-level corruption scandal is widely called theGulargate.[167] In US diplomatic channels, Aliyev's tactics has even been likened to those who head criminal organizations.[168][169]
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 theAzerbaijani laundromat scandal, which was a complexmoney-laundering scheme to pay off prominent European politicians to deflect criticism of Aliyev and promote a positive image of his regime.[71][72] Much of Aliyev's and his families wealth is hidden through an elaborate network of offshore companies.
In a speech delivered on 15 July 2020, during the2020 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes, President Aliyev targeted the largest opposition party, thePopular 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 theU.S. State Department urged Azerbaijan to avoid using the pandemic to silence "civil society advocacy, opposition voices, or public discussion".[183] These actions are widely seen as an attempt "to eliminate pro-democracy advocates and political rivals once and for all". According toRFE/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".[184]
According toReporters Without Borders, Aliyev launched "a new wave of fierce repression against the country’s last remaining journalists" in late 2023.[185] Journalists from the independentAbzas Media, Toplum TV, andMeydan TV were prosecuted in 2024 and 2025 in trials that international human rights organizations described as unfair.[186] The long prison sentences for seven journalists from Abzas Media are widely seen as retaliation for the outlet's investigations into corruption in the family of Ilham Aliyev and his inner circle.[187]
In 2012, Aliyev convinced the government ofHungary to transfer convicted murdererRamil 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,Gurgen Margaryan, who was also taking the course, while Margaryan was asleep. Safarov admitted that he committed the crime and surrendered himself to the police. Safarov has justified the act based over theNaghorno Karabakh conflict between the two countries from 1988 to 1994.[188][189] 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.[190][191]
Aliyev in a speech on 4 October 2020, during theSecond Nagorno-Karabakh War between Armenia, Artsakh and Azerbaijan
While in office, Aliyev has made numerousanti-Armenian statements,[192] and claiming historically Armenian territory for Azerbaijan.[citation needed]
Shortly after thousands of Azerbaijani people gathered to commemorate theKhojaly massacre, in which Azerbaijan claims that 613 Azerbaijanis had been massacred by the Armenian irregular forces and the366th 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 areArmenians of the world and the hypocritical and corrupt politicians that they control".[193][194] 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".[195]
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 theArmenians. It was a great mistake. Thekhanate of Iravan was theAzerbaijani territory, the Armenians were guests there."[196] 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."[197] "No project can be carried out in the Armenian occupied Azerbaijani territories without the consent and participation of Azerbaijan".[198]
Aliyev said that "Armenians living in Karabakh must either accept Azerbaijani citizenship or look for another place to live"[199][200][201] 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."[201][202] Aliyev's irredentist statements have drawn criticism from EU officials and human rights organizations specializing in genocide studies.[203][204][205][206][207][208][209][210][211]
During a speech on 10 November 2020, Aliyev directly referred toPrime Minister of ArmeniaNikol Pashinyan by mockingly sayingNə oldu Paşinyan? ("What happened Pashinyan?"), which became an Internet meme in Azerbaijan and Turkey.[212][213]
Aliyev has repeatedly made substantial territorial claims over Armenia proper.[217] 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."[217] In 2013 he defined much of Armenia as "historical lands" of theAzerbaijanis, promising them that they will live there "in the future", including in "Irevan and Zangezur regions", to which he sometimes adds "Geicha",Meghri, andGoris.[217] The first three of these are irredentist terms by which he means the Armenian capitalYerevan, the southernSyunik Province, andLake Sevan inGegharkunik Province, all of them in Armenia, while the latter two are towns in Syunik Province. In 2018, when he became theNew 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."[218] 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."[217]
^abcd"PRESIDENT » Biography".Official web-site of President of Azerbaijan Republic.Archived from the original on 20 January 2015. Retrieved23 March 2017.
^Presidential Elections in Azerbaijan Election Observation Delegation –13 16 October 2008. Report by Mrs Marie Anne Isler Beguin - Chairperson of the Delegation.
^Scahill, Jeremy (2011).Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army. London: Profile Books. p. 238.ISBN9781847654786.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.
^Vincent, Rebecca (19 May 2013)."When the music dies: Azerbaijan one year after Eurovision".Al Jazeera.Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved10 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.
^McGuinness, Damien (28 May 2013)."Cracking down on dissent in Ilham Aliyev's Azerbaijan".BBC News.Archived from the original on 11 June 2013. Retrieved10 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.
^Kucera, Joshua (9 July 2021)."Azerbaijan steps up talk of peace deal with Armenia".Eurasianet.Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved13 February 2024.But Aliyev's supposed peace offering [with Armenia] contained the usual insults, calling into question how sincere Baku might actually be
^"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 theLachin 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.
^"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 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.
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