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.
Arthur Khachatryan: Resistance Movement and the ‘Sulivan Plan’ [EP174]
Posted on Thursday, Nov 3, 2022 | Category: Politics, Armenia, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Iran, China, Geopolitics, Syria, India
Guest:
Topics:
- Massive Stepanakert Rally
- Sullivan Plan vs. Russian Plan
- Upcoming Protest on November 5
Episode 174 | Recorded: November 3, 2022
Rally in Stepanakert | Sullivan Plan | CSTO Security Council Convened | Trilateral in Sochi | Pashinyan in Tehran [EP173]
Posted on Wednesday, Nov 2, 2022 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, USA, European Union, Russia, Iran, Turkey, Georgia, Israel, Syria, Genocide, China, Human Rights, Ukraine | Series: cog
Guest:
Topics:
- Massive Stepanakert Rally
- The Sullivan Plan
- CSTO Security Council Convened
- Trilateral Summit in Sochi
- From Sochi to Tehran
Episode 173 | Recorded: November 1, 2022
Rally in Stepanakert | Sullivan Plan | CSTO Security Council Convened | Trilateral in Sochi | Pashinyan in Tehran [EP173]
Posted on Wednesday, Nov 2, 2022 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, USA, European Union, Russia, Iran, Turkey, Georgia, Israel, Syria, Genocide, China, Human Rights, UkraineGuest:
Topics:
- Massive Stepanakert Rally
- The Sullivan Plan
- CSTO Security Council Convened
- Trilateral Summit in Sochi
- From Sochi to Tehran
Episode 173 | Recorded: November 1, 2022
2022 Census | Astana | Iran | Cyber Attack | Remembering TsOR Unit | Ep 169 - Oct 16, 2022 [EP169]
Posted on Monday, Oct 17, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, Human Rights, Turkey, Ukraine, Georgia, Economy, Geopolitics, Israel, India | Series: wir
Guests:
Topics:
- Census in progress in Armenia
- Meetings in Astana
- Developments in Iran
- Armenian websites compromised
- Remembering the TsOR artillery unit
Episode 169 | Recorded: October 17, 2022
2022 Census | Astana | Iran | Cyber Attack | Remembering TsOR Unit | Ep 169 - Oct 16, 2022 [EP169]
Posted on Monday, Oct 17, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, Human Rights, Turkey, Ukraine, Georgia, Economy, Geopolitics, Israel, IndiaGuests:
Topics:
- Census in progress in Armenia
- Meetings in Astana
- Developments in Iran
- Armenian websites compromised
- Remembering the TsOR artillery unit
Episode 169 | Recorded: October 17, 2022
Armenia-Azerbaijan “Peace Negotiations” Tactics and Goals | October 14, 2022 [EP168]
Posted on Friday, Oct 14, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, European Union, Israel | Series: cog
Guest:
Topics:
- Goals and Tactics of Azerbaijan’s Negotiations
- How did “Corridors” Become a Thing?
- Russia’s Contributions to the process
- Options and Scenarios Going Forwards
Episode 168 | Recorded: Friday, October 14, 2022
Armenia-Azerbaijan “Peace Negotiations” Tactics and Goals | October 14, 2022 [EP168]
Posted on Friday, Oct 14, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, European Union, IsraelGuest:
Topics:
- Goals and Tactics of Azerbaijan’s Negotiations
- How did “Corridors” Become a Thing?
- Russia’s Contributions to the process
- Options and Scenarios Going Forwards
Episode 168 | Recorded: Friday, October 14, 2022
Artsakh Independence | Diplomacy | Normalization with Turkey | Gorbachev | Ep 162 - Sep 4, 2022 [EP162]
Posted on Tuesday, Sep 6, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Politics, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Lebanon, Economy, Geopolitics, Israel, European Union, NATO, Georgia, Human Rights, Middle East | Series: wir
Armenian News Network - Groong Week in Review - Sep 4, 2022
Topics:
- September 2: Artsakh Independence Day
- September 2 is a public holiday commemorating the day 31 years ago when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic declared independence from the USSR. Before 2020, this would be a festive holiday. This year, there were protests in both Yerevan and Stepanakert as well as visits to the gravesites of fallen heroes.
- Developments in Geopolitics
- There were two major meetings this week between Armenia and Azerbaijan. On August 30, the deputy PMs met in Moscow, then on August 31, Pashinyan and Aliyev met
Artsakh Independence | Diplomacy | Normalization with Turkey | Gorbachev | Ep 162 - Sep 4, 2022 [EP162]
Posted on Tuesday, Sep 6, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Politics, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Lebanon, Economy, Geopolitics, Israel, European Union, NATO, Georgia, Human Rights, Middle EastArmenian News Network - Groong Week in Review - Sep 4, 2022
Topics:
- September 2: Artsakh Independence Day
- September 2 is a public holiday commemorating the day 31 years ago when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic declared independence from the USSR. Before 2020, this would be a festive holiday. This year, there were protests in both Yerevan and Stepanakert as well as visits to the gravesites of fallen heroes.
- Developments in Geopolitics
- There were two major meetings this week between Armenia and Azerbaijan. On August 30, the deputy PMs met in Moscow, then on August 31, Pashinyan and Aliyev met