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.
ANN/Groong Week in Review - (Ep #16) - 09/20/2020 [EP16]
Posted on Monday, Sep 21, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Genocide, Human Rights, Israel, Armenian Church, Armenian Genocide, NATO | Series: wir
Guest(s):
ANN/Groong Week in Review - 09/20/2020
Topics:
- Constitutional Court Appointment
- Armeniaâs Growing National Debt
- Calls for the Resignation of the Minister of Education
- Escalated Tensions on the Armenian-Azerbaijan border
- Armenian Soldier dies amidst escalation
- Azerbaijan again slams negotiations, turns away Russian AWACS
- Khodorkovsky Publishes New Dossier on Armenian & Azerbaijan
- Bob Dole hired by Embassy of Armenia as a Lobbyist
Guests
- Hrant Mikaelyan
- Emil Sanamyan
- Alen Zamanyan
Hosts
- Asbed Bedrossian
- Hovik Manucharyan
ANN/Groong Week in Review - (Ep #16) - 09/20/2020 [EP16]
Posted on Monday, Sep 21, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Genocide, Human Rights, Israel, Armenian Church, Armenian Genocide, NATOGuest(s):
ANN/Groong Week in Review - 09/20/2020
Topics:
- Constitutional Court Appointment
- Armeniaâs Growing National Debt
- Calls for the Resignation of the Minister of Education
- Escalated Tensions on the Armenian-Azerbaijan border
- Armenian Soldier dies amidst escalation
- Azerbaijan again slams negotiations, turns away Russian AWACS
- Khodorkovsky Publishes New Dossier on Armenian & Azerbaijan
- Bob Dole hired by Embassy of Armenia as a Lobbyist
Guests
- Hrant Mikaelyan
- Emil Sanamyan
- Alen Zamanyan
Hosts
- Asbed Bedrossian
- Hovik Manucharyan
ANN/Groong Week in Review - (Ep #14) - 09/13/2020 [EP14]
Posted on Monday, Sep 14, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran, Israel, India, China, Georgia, Ukraine, Nagorno Karabakh | Series: wir
Guest(s):
ANN/Groong Week in Review - 09/13/2020
Topics:
- Electoral Reforms in Armenia
- Journalist Dana Mazalov passes away
- ANSEF Reorganization
- My Step MP Arsen Julfalakyan Resigns from Parliament
- Russian Opposition Leader Navalny’s Poisoning and Recovery
- What is going on in Baku?
- Azeri pressure on Arms Providers to Armenia
- Aliyev vs. Aliyeva?
- Caucasus 2020 Joint Military Exercises and those MIA
Guests
- Asbed Kotchikian
- Emil Sanamyan
- Alen Zamanyan
Hosts
- Hovik Manucharyan
- Asbed Bedrossian
Website:
Read MoreANN/Groong Week in Review - (Ep #14) - 09/13/2020 [EP14]
Posted on Monday, Sep 14, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran, Israel, India, China, Georgia, Ukraine, Nagorno KarabakhGuest(s):
ANN/Groong Week in Review - 09/13/2020
Topics:
- Electoral Reforms in Armenia
- Journalist Dana Mazalov passes away
- ANSEF Reorganization
- My Step MP Arsen Julfalakyan Resigns from Parliament
- Russian Opposition Leader Navalny’s Poisoning and Recovery
- What is going on in Baku?
- Azeri pressure on Arms Providers to Armenia
- Aliyev vs. Aliyeva?
- Caucasus 2020 Joint Military Exercises and those MIA
Guests
- Asbed Kotchikian
- Emil Sanamyan
- Alen Zamanyan
Hosts
- Hovik Manucharyan
- Asbed Bedrossian
Website:
Read MoreANN/Groong Week in Review - (Ep #11) - 08/30/2020 [EP11]
Posted on Sunday, Aug 30, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics, Azerbaijan, Russia, Syria, Artsakh, Lebanon, USA, Middle East, Turkey, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union | Series: wir
ANN/Groong Week in Review - 08/30/2020
Topics:
- Armenian POW Gurgen Alaverdyan
- Armeniaâs Humanitarian Aid to Aleppo
- Serge Sargsyanâs Interview and the Four-Day War Deliberations
- National Awards
- Vagharshak Harutyunyanâs Appointment as Chief Advisor to Pashinyan
Guests:
- Asbed Kotchikian
- Emil Sanamyan
- Alen Zamanyan
Guest(s):
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan
- Asbed Bedrossian
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20200830.html Episode 11 | Recorded on August 30 2020
ANN/Groong Week in Review - (Ep #11) - 08/30/2020 [EP11]
Posted on Sunday, Aug 30, 2020 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Geopolitics, Azerbaijan, Russia, Syria, Artsakh, Lebanon, USA, Middle East, Turkey, Nagorno Karabakh, European UnionANN/Groong Week in Review - 08/30/2020
Topics:
- Armenian POW Gurgen Alaverdyan
- Armeniaâs Humanitarian Aid to Aleppo
- Serge Sargsyanâs Interview and the Four-Day War Deliberations
- National Awards
- Vagharshak Harutyunyanâs Appointment as Chief Advisor to Pashinyan
Guests:
- Asbed Kotchikian
- Emil Sanamyan
- Alen Zamanyan
Guest(s):
Hosts:
- Hovik Manucharyan
- Asbed Bedrossian
Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20200830.html Episode 11 | Recorded on August 30 2020