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.
Tevan Poghosyan: CIA in EVN | Armen Grigoryan | Papazian Banned | FMs Meet | Ep #148 - July 17, 2022 [EP148]
Posted on Wednesday, Jul 20, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, Turkey, Human Rights, Syria, Genocide, Middle East, Ukraine, Nagorno Karabakh, NATO, European Union
Guest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - July 17, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00:00 Introduction
- 00:02:30 CIA Chief in Armenia
- 00:18:26 Army Chief Appointed
- 00:30:41 Armen Grigoryan Dies in Court
- 00:45:14 Mourad Papazian is Denied Entry in Armenia
- 00:57:04 Bayramov and Mirzoyan in Tbilisi
- 01:06:11 Rants
Guests:
- Tevan Poghosyan - TW/@TevanPoghosyan
Host:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 148 | Recorded: Monday, July 19, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220717.html
Developments in Regional Geopolitics and Censorship Laws | Ep #146 - July 10, 2022 [EP146]
Posted on Tuesday, Jul 12, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, Russia, Syria, India, Georgia, Israel, China, Economy, Ukraine, Armenian Church, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union, Middle East | Series: wir
Guest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - July 10, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:40 Developments in the Regional Geopolitics
- 47:53 Watch your Internets!
- 55:58 Rants
Guests:
- Hrant Mikaelian / TW/@Hrant_M
- Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan / TW/@Benyamin_Poghos
Host:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 146 | Recorded: Monday, July 11, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220710.html
#armenian #news
Developments in Regional Geopolitics and Censorship Laws | Ep #146 - July 10, 2022 [EP146]
Posted on Tuesday, Jul 12, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, Russia, Syria, India, Georgia, Israel, China, Economy, Ukraine, Armenian Church, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union, Middle EastGuest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - July 10, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:40 Developments in the Regional Geopolitics
- 47:53 Watch your Internets!
- 55:58 Rants
Guests:
- Hrant Mikaelian / TW/@Hrant_M
- Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan / TW/@Benyamin_Poghos
Host:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 146 | Recorded: Monday, July 11, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220710.html
#armenian #news
Armenian News: Opposition | Jhangiryan Scandal | Peace Talks, Shootings | Ep #143 - Jun 19, 2022 [EP143]
Posted on Tuesday, Jun 21, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Israel, Artsakh, China, Russia, Nagorno Karabakh | Series: wir
Guest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong - Week in Review - June 19, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:53 Did the Opposition Blink? What will happen to the Yerevan protests?
- 15:54 Scandal in the Supreme Judicial Council involving Gagik Jhangiryan (SJC)
- 34:31 More Artsakh âPeaceâ Talks, More Border Shootings
- 52:32 Rants
Guests:
- Tevan Poghosyan / Ô¹Õ¥ÖÕ¡Õ¶ ÕÕ¸Õ²Õ¸Õ½ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ / TW/@TevanPoghosyan
Host:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 143 | Recorded: Monday, June 20, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220619.html
Read MoreArmenian News: Opposition | Jhangiryan Scandal | Peace Talks, Shootings | Ep #143 - Jun 19, 2022 [EP143]
Posted on Tuesday, Jun 21, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Israel, Artsakh, China, Russia, Nagorno KarabakhGuest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong - Week in Review - June 19, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:53 Did the Opposition Blink? What will happen to the Yerevan protests?
- 15:54 Scandal in the Supreme Judicial Council involving Gagik Jhangiryan (SJC)
- 34:31 More Artsakh âPeaceâ Talks, More Border Shootings
- 52:32 Rants
Guests:
- Tevan Poghosyan / Ô¹Õ¥ÖÕ¡Õ¶ ÕÕ¸Õ²Õ¸Õ½ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ / TW/@TevanPoghosyan
Host:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 143 | Recorded: Monday, June 20, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220619.html
Read MoreArmenian News: Negotiations | Opp Protests | Iran-Armenia Rels | CSTO Meet | Ep #139 - May 22, 2022 [EP139]
Posted on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, Georgia, Turkey, Syria, Ukraine, Israel, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Economy, European Union, NATO, Human Rights | Series: wir
Guest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 22, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:05 âAgenda of Peaceâ Negotiations Continue
- 34:49 Iran-Armenia Relations
- 44:00 CSTO Leaders Meeting in Moscow
- 49:44 State of the Opposition Protests
- 59:51 Hovik’s Rant
Guests:
- Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan / TW/@Benyamin_Poghos
Host:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 139 | Recorded: Monday, May 23, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220522.html #zartnirlao
Armenian News: Negotiations | Opp Protests | Iran-Armenia Rels | CSTO Meet | Ep #139 - May 22, 2022 [EP139]
Posted on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, Georgia, Turkey, Syria, Ukraine, Israel, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Economy, European Union, NATO, Human RightsGuest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 22, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:05 âAgenda of Peaceâ Negotiations Continue
- 34:49 Iran-Armenia Relations
- 44:00 CSTO Leaders Meeting in Moscow
- 49:44 State of the Opposition Protests
- 59:51 Hovik’s Rant
Guests:
- Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan / TW/@Benyamin_Poghos
Host:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 139 | Recorded: Monday, May 23, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220522.html #zartnirlao
Armenia News: Yerevan Protests | Armenia Responds | Lebanon Elections 2022 | Ep #137 - May 15, 2022 [EP137]
Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Lebanon, Russia, Ukraine, Artsakh, Iran, Turkey, Economy, Armenian Church, China, Georgia, Israel, Middle East, Syria, Nagorno Karabakh | Series: wir
Guest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 15, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:34 Continuing Opposition Protests in Yerevan
- 18:19 5 + 6: Armeniaâs âResponseâ to Azerbaijan
- 41:28 Lebanon Elections 2022
Guests:
- Dr. Ohannes Geukjian
- Arthur G. Martirosyan
Host:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Katia Peltekian / TW/@KatiaPeltekian
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 137 | Recorded: Tuesday, May 16, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220515.html
Armenia News: Yerevan Protests | Armenia Responds | Lebanon Elections 2022 | Ep #137 - May 15, 2022 [EP137]
Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Lebanon, Russia, Ukraine, Artsakh, Iran, Turkey, Economy, Armenian Church, China, Georgia, Israel, Middle East, Syria, Nagorno KarabakhGuest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 15, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:34 Continuing Opposition Protests in Yerevan
- 18:19 5 + 6: Armeniaâs âResponseâ to Azerbaijan
- 41:28 Lebanon Elections 2022
Guests:
- Dr. Ohannes Geukjian
- Arthur G. Martirosyan
Host:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Katia Peltekian / TW/@KatiaPeltekian
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 137 | Recorded: Tuesday, May 16, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220515.html