Ilham Aliyev
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Ilham Aliyev has led Azerbaijan since succeeding his father Heydar Aliyev in 2003, consolidating an authoritarian system built on hydrocarbon wealth and a foreign policy defined by strategic patience and the eventual use of force in the Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) conflict. Aliyev is one of the most frequently discussed figures in Groong’s coverage, appearing across more than 200 episodes.
The two defining events of Aliyev’s tenure in Groong’s coverage are the 44-Day War of 2020 and Azerbaijan’s military offensive of September 2023. The 2020 war — launched with Turkish military support — ended with Armenia’s defeat and the Russian-brokered ceasefire of November 9. Aliyev then used the three-year interregnum to progressively squeeze the remaining Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh through the Lachin Corridor blockade before the September 2023 offensive that expelled the entire Armenian population of Artsakh — what international human rights organizations have characterized as ethnic cleansing.
In Groong’s analysis, Aliyev’s post-2023 posture has continued to pressure Armenia on multiple fronts: demanding constitutional changes, pursuing the Zangezur Corridor through Syunik , and keeping Armenian prisoners of war — including former Artsakh leaders — in Azerbaijani detention. Episodes also examine Aliyev’s foreign policy relationships: his alliance with Turkey, Azerbaijan’s growing ties with Israel and other arms suppliers, his use of energy leverage over Europe, Azerbaijan’s hosting of COP29 in Baku in 2024, and Baku’s uneasy balance between Russia and the West.
Groong episodes covering Aliyev address the state of the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process , the human rights situation inside Azerbaijan, and the broader implications of Azerbaijani regional ambitions for Armenian security.
Groong episodes that include this tag
Below are all Groong episodes tagged with Ilham Aliyev.
Benyamin Poghosyan - Pashinyan, Aliyev, Michel in Brussels | Turkish Presidential Elections | Court vs. News & Media | Ep 255 - May 14, 2023 [EP255]
Posted on Monday, May 15, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Azerbaijan, Turkey, USA, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union, Russia, Georgia, India, Iran, China, Israel, Ukraine
Guest:
Topic:
- Pashinyan, Aliyev, Michel Meet in Brussels
- Azerbaijan Attacks Sotk
- Turkish Presidential Elections
Episode 255 | Recorded: May 15, 2023
Hrant Mikaelian - Armenia Azerbaijan Negotiations | IRI Poll | Armenia Census 2022 [EP252]
Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Poll, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Armenian Church, European Union, Georgia, Economy, India, Ukraine, China, Genocide, Israel | Series: wir
Guest:
Topics:
- Armenia-Azerbaijan Negotiations Continue
- Latest IRI Armenia Poll Results
- Armenian Census 2022 - Preliminary Results
Episode 252 | Recorded: May 9, 2023
Hrant Mikaelian - Armenia Azerbaijan Negotiations | IRI Poll | Armenia Census 2022 [EP252]
Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Poll, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Armenian Church, European Union, Georgia, Economy, India, Ukraine, China, Genocide, IsraelGuest:
Topics:
- Armenia-Azerbaijan Negotiations Continue
- Latest IRI Armenia Poll Results
- Armenian Census 2022 - Preliminary Results
Episode 252 | Recorded: May 9, 2023
Azerbaijan Officially Blocks Lachin/Berdzor Corridor | Armenian-Azeri Negotiations | Drug Use Epidemic in Armenia | Ep 251 - April 30, 2023 [EP251]
Posted on Monday, May 1, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Azerbaijan, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Russia, USA, Armenian Genocide, Artsakh Blockade, Turkey, Genocide, Iran, Israel, Ukraine, Economy, NATO | Series: wir
Guest:
Topics:
- Azerbaijan Officially Blocks Berdzor/Lachin Corridor
- Update on Armenian-Azeri Negotiations
- Drug Use Epidemic in Armenia
Episode 251 | Recorded: May 1, 2023
Azerbaijan Officially Blocks Lachin/Berdzor Corridor | Armenian-Azeri Negotiations | Drug Use Epidemic in Armenia | Ep 251 - April 30, 2023 [EP251]
Posted on Monday, May 1, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Azerbaijan, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Russia, USA, Armenian Genocide, Artsakh Blockade, Turkey, Genocide, Iran, Israel, Ukraine, Economy, NATOGuest:
Topics:
- Azerbaijan Officially Blocks Berdzor/Lachin Corridor
- Update on Armenian-Azeri Negotiations
- Drug Use Epidemic in Armenia
Episode 251 | Recorded: May 1, 2023
Armenian Genocide Anniversary | Artsakh In Stranglehold | Israel-Azerbaijan [EP249]
Posted on Tuesday, Apr 25, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Russia, Iran, Israel, Armenian Genocide, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, Genocide, China, Human Rights, India, Lebanon, Middle East, Syria, Ukraine, European Union | Series: wir
Guest:
Topics:
- Armenian Genocide: 108 Anniversary
- Azerbaijan Strangles Artsakh
- Artsakh Strangled
- International Community
- Pashinyanâs Parliament Speech
- Madrid Principles
- Aliyev Continues Threats, Ultimatum to Artsakh Armenians
- What Can Diaspora Do?
- Israel - Azerbaijan cooperation against Iran?
- Rants
Episode 249 | Recorded: April 25, 2023
Armenian Genocide Anniversary | Artsakh In Stranglehold | Israel-Azerbaijan [EP249]
Posted on Tuesday, Apr 25, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Russia, Iran, Israel, Armenian Genocide, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, Genocide, China, Human Rights, India, Lebanon, Middle East, Syria, Ukraine, European UnionGuest:
Topics:
- Armenian Genocide: 108 Anniversary
- Azerbaijan Strangles Artsakh
- Artsakh Strangled
- International Community
- Pashinyanâs Parliament Speech
- Madrid Principles
- Aliyev Continues Threats, Ultimatum to Artsakh Armenians
- What Can Diaspora Do?
- Israel - Azerbaijan cooperation against Iran?
- Rants
Episode 249 | Recorded: April 25, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 236, Mar 12, 2023 [EP236]
Posted on Sunday, Mar 12, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh Blockade, India, Iran, Human Rights | Series: artsakhblockade
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 236, Mar 12, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - March 12, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- Gas cutoff again.
- Aftermath of Azerbaijan Killing 3 Artsakh Policemen
- Potential for New Aggression
- No âPeaceâ without âRights and Security for Artsakhâ?
Episode 236 | Recorded: March 12, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 236, Mar 12, 2023 [EP236]
Posted on Sunday, Mar 12, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh Blockade, India, Iran, Human RightsArtsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 236, Mar 12, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - March 12, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- Gas cutoff again.
- Aftermath of Azerbaijan Killing 3 Artsakh Policemen
- Potential for New Aggression
- No âPeaceâ without âRights and Security for Artsakhâ?
Episode 236 | Recorded: March 12, 2023