Tag: Ilham Aliyev
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Ilham Aliyev, who has led Azerbaijan since 2003, is one of the most frequently discussed figures in Groong’s coverage. His government’s decision to launch the 44-Day War in 2020 and the subsequent military operation in September 2023 that ended Armenian control of Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) — and resulted in the ethnic cleansing of over 100,000 Armenians from the region — fundamentally reshaped the South Caucasus.
Groong episodes examine Aliyev’s relationship with Turkey, his use of energy leverage over Europe, Azerbaijan’s growing ties with Israel and other arms suppliers, his government’s human rights record, and Baku’s demands in ongoing negotiations with Armenia over a peace treaty. Coverage also addresses Azerbaijan’s hosting of COP29 in 2024 and what that meant for international scrutiny of the country’s domestic policies.
Turkish Armenian Normalization - Conversation with Harut Sassounian | Ep #111 - Jan 9, 2022 [EP111]
Posted on Sunday, Jan 9, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Genocide, Russia, Israel, Artsakh, Economy, Armenian Genocide, Human Rights, Armenian Church, Georgia, Syria | Series: COG
Turkish-Armenian Normalization Negotiations A Conversation with Harut Sassounian
- Harut Sassounian has been the publisher of The California Courier newspaper since 1983. He is also the President of the Armenia Artsakh Fund, a non-profit organization which has delivered to Armenia and Artsakh $947 million of humanitarian assistance since 1989. He is currently engaged in forming the Diaspora Armenian Parliament through local elections.
Topics:
- History of Turkish-Armenian Attempts at Negotiations
- Who are The Players?
- Why Now? What’s on the Agenda?
- What are the Pitfalls and Opportunities?
Turkish Armenian Normalization - Conversation with Harut Sassounian | Ep #111 - Jan 9, 2022 [EP111]
Posted on Sunday, Jan 9, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Genocide, Russia, Israel, Artsakh, Economy, Armenian Genocide, Human Rights, Armenian Church, Georgia, SyriaTurkish-Armenian Normalization Negotiations A Conversation with Harut Sassounian
- Harut Sassounian has been the publisher of The California Courier newspaper since 1983. He is also the President of the Armenia Artsakh Fund, a non-profit organization which has delivered to Armenia and Artsakh $947 million of humanitarian assistance since 1989. He is currently engaged in forming the Diaspora Armenian Parliament through local elections.
Topics:
- History of Turkish-Armenian Attempts at Negotiations
- Who are The Players?
- Why Now? What’s on the Agenda?
- What are the Pitfalls and Opportunities?
Normalization | Brussels Sprouts | NSC Chair in DC | Armenia Project Tour | Ep. 108 - Dec 19, 2021 [EP108]
Posted on Tuesday, Dec 21, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia | Series: WIR
ANN/Groong Week in Review - December 19, 2021
Topics:
- Turkish-Armenian normalization
- Brussels Sprouts
- Armen Grigoryan in Washington DC
- The Armenian Project - US Tour
- Analyst Rants
Guest:
Episode 108 | Recorded: December 20, 2021
Normalization | Brussels Sprouts | NSC Chair in DC | Armenia Project Tour | Ep. 108 - Dec 19, 2021 [EP108]
Posted on Tuesday, Dec 21, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, RussiaANN/Groong Week in Review - December 19, 2021
Topics:
- Turkish-Armenian normalization
- Brussels Sprouts
- Armen Grigoryan in Washington DC
- The Armenian Project - US Tour
- Analyst Rants
Guest:
Episode 108 | Recorded: December 20, 2021
Armenian and Azerbaijani Expert Perspectives on Negotiations | Ep #107 - Dec 15, 2021 [EP107]
Posted on Wednesday, Dec 15, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Iran, Georgia, Artsakh, USA, China, Syria, Armenian Genocide | Series: cog, video
Anar Valiyev and Benyamin Poghosyan discuss stumbling blocks in post-war negotiations
Guests:
- Dr. Anar Valiyev, Associate Professor at Azerbaijani Diplomatic Academy (ADA) University in Baku.
- Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan, Chairman of Yerevan-based think tank Center for Political and Economic Strategic Studies.
Topics:
- Artsakh Status (@4:54)
- Is the conflict really “solved” (@11:04)
- Opening of Communications (@38:52)
- Corridor for Corridor (@46:32)
- “Unimpeded” Access (@50:15)
- Russia’s regional role (@53:16)
- Turkey’s regional role (@58:48)
- 3+3 or 3+2 Format
Armenian and Azerbaijani Expert Perspectives on Negotiations | Ep #107 - Dec 15, 2021 [EP107]
Posted on Wednesday, Dec 15, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Iran, Georgia, Artsakh, USA, China, Syria, Armenian GenocideAnar Valiyev and Benyamin Poghosyan discuss stumbling blocks in post-war negotiations
Guests:
- Dr. Anar Valiyev, Associate Professor at Azerbaijani Diplomatic Academy (ADA) University in Baku.
- Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan, Chairman of Yerevan-based think tank Center for Political and Economic Strategic Studies.
Topics:
- Artsakh Status (@4:54)
- Is the conflict really “solved” (@11:04)
- Opening of Communications (@38:52)
- Corridor for Corridor (@46:32)
- “Unimpeded” Access (@50:15)
- Russia’s regional role (@53:16)
- Turkey’s regional role (@58:48)
- 3+3 or 3+2 Format
Regional Geopolitics | Turkmen / Iran Gas | Armenian Opposition Fizzles Out | Ep #105 - Dec 5, 2021 [EP105]
Posted on Monday, Dec 6, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, China, Artsakh, Geopolitics, India, Israel, Economy | Series: WIR
ANN/Groong Week in Review - December 5, 2021
Topics:
- Regional Geopolitics @1:07
- Turkmenistan / Iran Gas Swap Deal @46:58
- Opposition Fizzles Out. Again @58:18
Guests:
- Benyamin Poghosyan TW/@benyamin_poghos
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 105 | Recorded: Sunday, December 5, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211205.html
Regional Geopolitics | Turkmen / Iran Gas | Armenian Opposition Fizzles Out | Ep #105 - Dec 5, 2021 [EP105]
Posted on Monday, Dec 6, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, China, Artsakh, Geopolitics, India, Israel, EconomyANN/Groong Week in Review - December 5, 2021
Topics:
- Regional Geopolitics @1:07
- Turkmenistan / Iran Gas Swap Deal @46:58
- Opposition Fizzles Out. Again @58:18
Guests:
- Benyamin Poghosyan TW/@benyamin_poghos
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 105 | Recorded: Sunday, December 5, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211205.html
Pashinyan Live | From Sochi to Brussels | Normalization | Co-opetition | Ep #104 - Nov 28, 2021 [EP104]
Posted on Monday, Nov 29, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics, Russia, Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan, Syria, Economy, Georgia, China, India, Lebanon, Artsakh, Ukraine, Genocide, Middle East | Series: WIR
ANN/Groong Week in Review - November 28, 2021
Topics:
- Pashinyan Live on Facebook
- Trilateral in Sochi, Bilateral in Brussels
- Turkish-Armenian “Normalization”
- Russian-Turkish “Co-opetition” in Eurasia
Guests:
- Hrant Mikaelian TW/@hrant_m
- Yeghia Tashjian TW/@yeghig
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 104 | Recorded: Sunday, November 28, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211128.html