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.

Pashinyan in Moscow | Azerbaijan's Geo-politics | Baku Domestic Politics | Baku's Losses (Ep. 43) [EP43]

Posted on Monday, Jan 18, 2021 | Category: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, Turkey, Syria, Georgia, Iran, Artsakh, Economy, Israel, Human Rights, Nagorno Karabakh

Guest(s):

ANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 17, 2021

Topics Covered:

  • Outcomes from Nikol Pashinyan’s trip to Moscow
  • What is Azerbaijan’s geo-political situation after the war?
  • Domestic politics in Baku
  • Azerbaijan’s losses from the second war in Artsakh

Guests

  • Edgar Elbakyan
  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • Emil Sanamyan

Your Hosts:

  • Asbed Bedrossian
  • Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210117.html Recorded: January 17, 2021

Armeenia and Artsakh in the Arab Media (Ep #24) - 10/28/2020 [EP24]

Posted on Monday, Nov 2, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, Middle East, Genocide, Armenian Genocide, Iran, Artsakh, Israel, Russia, Armenian Church, Nagorno Karabakh | Series: cog

Guest(s):

Conversations on Groong: Artsakh in the Arab Media - Oct 28, 2020

Since September 27, Azerbaijan has been waging an all out war on Artsakh, cluster-bombing towns and villages and killing civilians and destroying churches and cultural centers, with the aim to destroy and depopulate the region. The worldwide Armenian Diaspora has come together to fight this existential threat.

We’ve read much about the Diaspora’s activities around most of the world, but what about the Arab world? This episode explores some of the challenges and opportunities that

 Read More

Armeenia and Artsakh in the Arab Media (Ep #24) - 10/28/2020 [EP24]

Posted on Monday, Nov 2, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, Middle East, Genocide, Armenian Genocide, Iran, Artsakh, Israel, Russia, Armenian Church, Nagorno Karabakh

Guest(s):

Conversations on Groong: Artsakh in the Arab Media - Oct 28, 2020

Since September 27, Azerbaijan has been waging an all out war on Artsakh, cluster-bombing towns and villages and killing civilians and destroying churches and cultural centers, with the aim to destroy and depopulate the region. The worldwide Armenian Diaspora has come together to fight this existential threat.

We’ve read much about the Diaspora’s activities around most of the world, but what about the Arab world? This episode explores some of the challenges and opportunities that

 Read More

Stepanakert Cluster Bombed | Turkey's Role | Russia Quiet | What's Next? | Ep. 20 - Oct 4, 2020 [EP20]

Posted on Monday, Oct 5, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh, Turkey, Russia, Georgia, Iran, Syria, Geopolitics | Series: wir

ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 4, 2020

Topics:

  • Stepanakert under persistent bombardment using banned cluster bombs.
  • Turkey’s role in the war.
  • Why is Russia quiet?
  • What can we expect next?

Guests:

Episode 20 | Recorded: Oct 3, 2020

Stepanakert Cluster Bombed | Turkey's Role | Russia Quiet | What's Next? | Ep. 20 - Oct 4, 2020 [EP20]

Posted on Monday, Oct 5, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh, Turkey, Russia, Georgia, Iran, Syria, Geopolitics

ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 4, 2020

Topics:

  • Stepanakert under persistent bombardment using banned cluster bombs.
  • Turkey’s role in the war.
  • Why is Russia quiet?
  • What can we expect next?

Guests:

Episode 20 | Recorded: Oct 3, 2020

Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict in Regional Context - Libaridian / De Waal (Ep. 19) [EP19]

Posted on Saturday, Oct 3, 2020 | Category: Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran, Middle East, Genocide, Artsakh, China, Geopolitics, Georgia, Human Rights, India, Lebanon, Syria, Nagorno Karabakh, NATO | Series: cog

Guest(s):

Conversations on Groong - October 3, 2020

It has now been 7 days since Azerbaijan initiated a wide-scale attack against Armenia and Artsakh. The tragic news of deaths and destruction continue to stream in every hour.

In today’s conversation on Groong, we talk to Jirair Libaridian and Thomas DeWaal about the regional geopolitics that helped create a ripe environment for renewed fighting and various potential scenarios that may develop as a result of it.

Questions explored:

  • What was the path leading to the latest escalation?
  • Why has Turkey taken an
 Read More

Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict in Regional Context - Libaridian / De Waal (Ep. 19) [EP19]

Posted on Saturday, Oct 3, 2020 | Category: Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran, Middle East, Genocide, Artsakh, China, Geopolitics, Georgia, Human Rights, India, Lebanon, Syria, Nagorno Karabakh, NATO

Guest(s):

Conversations on Groong - October 3, 2020

It has now been 7 days since Azerbaijan initiated a wide-scale attack against Armenia and Artsakh. The tragic news of deaths and destruction continue to stream in every hour.

In today’s conversation on Groong, we talk to Jirair Libaridian and Thomas DeWaal about the regional geopolitics that helped create a ripe environment for renewed fighting and various potential scenarios that may develop as a result of it.

Questions explored:

  • What was the path leading to the latest escalation?
  • Why has Turkey taken an
 Read More

ANN/Groong Week in Review - (Ep #18) - 09/27/2020 [EP18]

Posted on Monday, Sep 28, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Israel, Russia, Georgia, Turkey, Syria, Artsakh, China, Economy, Genocide, Lebanon, Ukraine, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenian Genocide | Series: wir

Guest(s):

ANN/Groong Week in Review - (Ep #18) - 09/27/2020

Topics:

  • The 29th Anniversary of Armenian Independence;
  • Armenia’s foreign policy;
  • Azerbaijan war of disinformation; and lastly
  • Opposition trio rally and Tsarukyan’s arrest

Guests

  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • Marine Manucharyan
  • Emil Sanamyan

Hosts

  • Asbed Bedrossian
  • Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20200927.html Episode 18 | Recorded on September 26, 2020

ANN/Groong Week in Review - (Ep #18) - 09/27/2020 [EP18]

Posted on Monday, Sep 28, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Israel, Russia, Georgia, Turkey, Syria, Artsakh, China, Economy, Genocide, Lebanon, Ukraine, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenian Genocide

Guest(s):

ANN/Groong Week in Review - (Ep #18) - 09/27/2020

Topics:

  • The 29th Anniversary of Armenian Independence;
  • Armenia’s foreign policy;
  • Azerbaijan war of disinformation; and lastly
  • Opposition trio rally and Tsarukyan’s arrest

Guests

  • Asbed Kotchikian
  • Marine Manucharyan
  • Emil Sanamyan

Hosts

  • Asbed Bedrossian
  • Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20200927.html Episode 18 | Recorded on September 26, 2020