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: Artsakh Under Blockade: Day 16 [EP195]
Posted on Tuesday, Dec 27, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Politics, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Artsakh Blockade, Nagorno Karabakh, Iran, Ukraine, Geopolitics, Israel, Genocide, Georgia, Middle East
Guest:
- Benyamin Poghosyan , Chairman of the Yerevan based think tank Center for Political and Economic Strategic Studies.
“Aliyev’s strategy is ’no Armenians, no problems’. What is our strategy?” -Benyamin Poghosyan
Topic:
More than 120,000 people remain trapped in the Republic of Artsakh (or Nagorno-Karabakh) due to Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin corridor, as this crisis enters its 16th day.
This interview is a continuation of the collaboration between Groong and 168 Hours aiming to bring you more English-language coverage on the developments of this
Read MoreYeghia Tashjian | Artsakh Blockade | Relations with Russia | Role of the Armenian Government | Draft 'Peace' Proposals | Weekend Protests in Artsakh [EP194]
Posted on Monday, Dec 26, 2022 | Category: Politics, Armenia, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, NATO, Ukraine, Iran, China, Georgia, Lebanon, Syria, Human Rights, Economy, Genocide, Israel, Middle East, India | Series: wir
Guest:
Topic:
- The Artsakh Blockade
- The Role of the Armenian Government
- Relations with Russia
- Latest Draft of “Peace” Proposal
- Weekend Protests in Artsakh
Episode 194 | Recorded: December 26, 2022
Yeghia Tashjian | Artsakh Blockade | Relations with Russia | Role of the Armenian Government | Draft 'Peace' Proposals | Weekend Protests in Artsakh [EP194]
Posted on Monday, Dec 26, 2022 | Category: Politics, Armenia, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, NATO, Ukraine, Iran, China, Georgia, Lebanon, Syria, Human Rights, Economy, Genocide, Israel, Middle East, IndiaGuest:
Topic:
- The Artsakh Blockade
- The Role of the Armenian Government
- Relations with Russia
- Latest Draft of “Peace” Proposal
- Weekend Protests in Artsakh
Episode 194 | Recorded: December 26, 2022
Arthur Khachatryan: Artsakh Under Blockade: Day 15 [EP193]
Posted on Monday, Dec 26, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Politics, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Artsakh Blockade, Armenian Church, Nagorno Karabakh, Economy | Series: cog, video
Guest:
- Arthur Khachatryan , an MP from the Hayastan (Armenia) alliance and member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF Dashnaktsutyun). In the past, he held government posts such as Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Development, Governor of Shirak, and Minister of Agriculture.
“The Armenian authorities are trying to bury the issue of status of Artsakh” -Arthur Khachatryan
Topic:
More than 120,000 people remain trapped in the Republic of Artsakh (or Nagorno-Karabakh) due to Azerbaijanâs blockade of the Lachin corridor, as this crisis enters its 15th day.
Read MoreArthur Khachatryan: Artsakh Under Blockade: Day 15 [EP193]
Posted on Monday, Dec 26, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Politics, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Artsakh Blockade, Armenian Church, Nagorno Karabakh, EconomyGuest:
- Arthur Khachatryan , an MP from the Hayastan (Armenia) alliance and member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF Dashnaktsutyun). In the past, he held government posts such as Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Development, Governor of Shirak, and Minister of Agriculture.
“The Armenian authorities are trying to bury the issue of status of Artsakh” -Arthur Khachatryan
Topic:
More than 120,000 people remain trapped in the Republic of Artsakh (or Nagorno-Karabakh) due to Azerbaijanâs blockade of the Lachin corridor, as this crisis enters its 15th day.
Read MoreEdgar Elbakyan: Artsakh Under Blockade: Day 13 [EP192]
Posted on Saturday, Dec 24, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Politics, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Artsakh Blockade, Nagorno Karabakh, Iran, Genocide, Human Rights, Georgia, Israel, Ukraine | Series: cog, video
Guest:
- Edgar Elbakyan , a political scientist and social thinker based in Yerevan, Armenia. He is a co-founder of the Armenian Project non-profit organization, which contributes to enhancing Armenian national civil society.
“The problem is not resources or power, the problem is how you put forward your goals”
Topic:
The blockade of Artsakh is now 13 days old. More than 120,000 people remain trapped in the Republic of Artsakh (or Nagorno-Karabakh). Supermarket shelves are empty. Essential medicine is running out.
On Friday, December 23, thatâs yesterday, a meeting between
Read MoreEdgar Elbakyan: Artsakh Under Blockade: Day 13 [EP192]
Posted on Saturday, Dec 24, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Politics, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Artsakh Blockade, Nagorno Karabakh, Iran, Genocide, Human Rights, Georgia, Israel, UkraineGuest:
- Edgar Elbakyan , a political scientist and social thinker based in Yerevan, Armenia. He is a co-founder of the Armenian Project non-profit organization, which contributes to enhancing Armenian national civil society.
“The problem is not resources or power, the problem is how you put forward your goals”
Topic:
The blockade of Artsakh is now 13 days old. More than 120,000 people remain trapped in the Republic of Artsakh (or Nagorno-Karabakh). Supermarket shelves are empty. Essential medicine is running out.
On Friday, December 23, thatâs yesterday, a meeting between
Read MoreVaruzhan Geghamyan: Artsakh Under Blockade: Day 11 [EP191]
Posted on Friday, Dec 23, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Politics, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Artsakh Blockade, Nagorno Karabakh, Iran, Genocide, NATO, Georgia, Human Rights, Syria, Ukraine, European Union, Middle East, India | Series: cog, video
“Turkish threats are going to disappear only when there is no Armenia” - Varuzhan Geghamyan
Guest:
Topic:
- We continue our coverage of the crisis in Artsakh by developments in the UN Security Council as well as Turkish and Iranian concerns in the region.
- More than 120 thousand people, including 30 thousand children, are under siege. Today is the 11th day of the crisis.
- This interview is a continuation of the collaboration between ANN/Groong and 168 Hours aiming to bring you more English-language coverage on the developments of this very serious humanitarian
Varuzhan Geghamyan: Artsakh Under Blockade: Day 11 [EP191]
Posted on Friday, Dec 23, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Politics, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Artsakh Blockade, Nagorno Karabakh, Iran, Genocide, NATO, Georgia, Human Rights, Syria, Ukraine, European Union, Middle East, India“Turkish threats are going to disappear only when there is no Armenia” - Varuzhan Geghamyan
Guest:
Topic:
- We continue our coverage of the crisis in Artsakh by developments in the UN Security Council as well as Turkish and Iranian concerns in the region.
- More than 120 thousand people, including 30 thousand children, are under siege. Today is the 11th day of the crisis.
- This interview is a continuation of the collaboration between ANN/Groong and 168 Hours aiming to bring you more English-language coverage on the developments of this very serious humanitarian