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.
Below are all Groong episodes tagged with Ilham Aliyev.
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 267, July 7, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - July 7, 2023
Episode 267 | Recorded: July 7, 2023
Episode 266 | Recorded: July 4, 2023
Episode 266 | Recorded: July 4, 2023
Episode 252 | Recorded: June 12, 2023
Episode 252 | Recorded: June 12, 2023
Episode 260 | Recorded: June 5, 2023
Episode 260 | Recorded: June 5, 2023
Episode 257 | Recorded: May 30, 2023
Episode 257 | Recorded: May 30, 2023
Episode 256 | Recorded: May 22, 2023
Episode 256 | Recorded: May 22, 2023
Episode 255 | Recorded: May 15, 2023
Episode 255 | Recorded: May 15, 2023
Episode 252 | Recorded: May 9, 2023
Episode 252 | Recorded: May 9, 2023
Episode 251 | Recorded: May 1, 2023
Episode 251 | Recorded: May 1, 2023
Episode 249 | Recorded: April 25, 2023
Episode 249 | Recorded: April 25, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 236, Mar 12, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - March 12, 2023
Episode 236 | Recorded: March 12, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 236, Mar 12, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - March 12, 2023
Episode 236 | Recorded: March 12, 2023
Episode 232 | Recorded: February 28, 2023
Episode 232 | Recorded: February 28, 2023
Today weâre going to talk with Anna Abrahamian about two or three topics.
Guest:
Today weâre going to talk with Anna Abrahamian about two or three topics.
Guest:
“Pashinyanâs participation in Munich Security Conference didnât give anything to Armenia” - Suren Sargsyan
Today is day 72 of the total blockade of Artsakh. For 72 days, the 120K citizens of Artsakh have not had the ability to enter or exit their country. They are deprived of the ability to visit Armenia or to receive guests from Armenia. With very limited supplies, they are forced to ration food with the help of food stamps in order to
Read More“Pashinyanâs participation in Munich Security Conference didnât give anything to Armenia” - Suren Sargsyan
Today is day 72 of the total blockade of Artsakh. For 72 days, the 120K citizens of Artsakh have not had the ability to enter or exit their country. They are deprived of the ability to visit Armenia or to receive guests from Armenia. With very limited supplies, they are forced to ration food with the help of food stamps in order to
Read MoreArtsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 227, Feb 21, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Feb 21, 2023
Episode 227 | Recorded: February 21, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 227, Feb 21, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Feb 21, 2023
Episode 227 | Recorded: February 21, 2023
Episode 226 | Recorded: February 19, 2023
Episode 226 | Recorded: February 19, 2023
Episode 217 | Recorded: January 24, 2023
Episode 217 | Recorded: January 24, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 216, Jan 24, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Jan 24, 2023
Episode 216 | Recorded: January 24, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 216, Jan 24, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Jan 24, 2023
Episode 216 | Recorded: January 24, 2023
Metaxe Hakobyan: Blockade of Artsakh Day 41 | Ep 213 - Jan 21, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Jan 21, 2023
Episode 213 | Recorded: January 21, 2023
Metaxe Hakobyan: Blockade of Artsakh Day 41 | Ep 213 - Jan 21, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Jan 21, 2023
Episode 213 | Recorded: January 21, 2023
Edgar Ghazaryan: Ô·Õ¤Õ£Õ¡Ö ÕÕ¡Õ¦Õ¡ÖÕµÕ¡Õ¶Õ¨, Ô±ÖÖÕ¡ÕÕ¸ÖÕ´ ÖÕ¡Õ²Õ¡ÖÕ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ Õ¦Õ¡ÖÕ£Õ¡ÖÕ¸ÖÕ´Õ¶Õ¥ÖÕ« Õ´Õ¡Õ½Õ«Õ¶ | Ep 207 - Jan 17, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Jan 17, 2023
Why should Ruben Vardanyan stay? Ô»Õ¶Õ¹Õ¸ÖÕ ÕºÕ¥Õ¿Ö Õ§ ÕÕ¸ÖÕ¢Õ¥Õ¶ ÕÕ¡ÖÕ¤Õ¡Õ¶ÕµÕ¡Õ¶Õ¨ Õ´Õ¶Õ¡
Episode 207 | Recorded: January 17, 2023
Edgar Ghazaryan: Ô·Õ¤Õ£Õ¡Ö ÕÕ¡Õ¦Õ¡ÖÕµÕ¡Õ¶Õ¨, Ô±ÖÖÕ¡ÕÕ¸ÖÕ´ ÖÕ¡Õ²Õ¡ÖÕ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ Õ¦Õ¡ÖÕ£Õ¡ÖÕ¸ÖÕ´Õ¶Õ¥ÖÕ« Õ´Õ¡Õ½Õ«Õ¶ | Ep 207 - Jan 17, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - Jan 17, 2023
Why should Ruben Vardanyan stay? Ô»Õ¶Õ¹Õ¸ÖÕ ÕºÕ¥Õ¿Ö Õ§ ÕÕ¸ÖÕ¢Õ¥Õ¶ ÕÕ¡ÖÕ¤Õ¡Õ¶ÕµÕ¡Õ¶Õ¨ Õ´Õ¶Õ¡
Episode 207 | Recorded: January 17, 2023
Episode 206 | Recorded: January 15, 2023
Episode 206 | Recorded: January 15, 2023
“The Armenian government, under its legislation, is obliged to protect the independence of Artsakh” - Aram Orbelyan
As of earlier this week, Artsakh has introduced coupons to ration food. Other
Read More“The Armenian government, under its legislation, is obliged to protect the independence of Artsakh” - Aram Orbelyan
As of earlier this week, Artsakh has introduced coupons to ration food. Other
Read MoreUsing art to prevent catastrophes instead of reacting to them
Ishkhanyan’s documentary “Sleep art”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzqzPpVsK-g
More than 120,000 people remain trapped in the Republic of Artsakh (or Nagorno-Karabakh) due to Azerbaijanâs blockade of the Lachin (Berdzor) corridor, as this crisis enters its 25th
Read MoreUsing art to prevent catastrophes instead of reacting to them
Ishkhanyan’s documentary “Sleep art”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzqzPpVsK-g
More than 120,000 people remain trapped in the Republic of Artsakh (or Nagorno-Karabakh) due to Azerbaijanâs blockade of the Lachin (Berdzor) corridor, as this crisis enters its 25th
Read More“This is not a humanitarian crisis. This is a political crisis, a crisis of statehood. -Karen Vrtanesyan”
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 very serious humanitarian crisis in progress.
Links:
Episode 196 | Recorded: December 30, 2022
“This is not a humanitarian crisis. This is a political crisis, a crisis of statehood. -Karen Vrtanesyan”
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 very serious humanitarian crisis in progress.
Links:
Episode 196 | Recorded: December 30, 2022
“Aliyev’s strategy is ’no Armenians, no problems’. What is our strategy?” -Benyamin Poghosyan
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 More“Aliyev’s strategy is ’no Armenians, no problems’. What is our strategy?” -Benyamin Poghosyan
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 MoreEpisode 194 | Recorded: December 26, 2022
Episode 194 | Recorded: December 26, 2022
“The Armenian authorities are trying to bury the issue of status of Artsakh” -Arthur Khachatryan
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 More“The Armenian authorities are trying to bury the issue of status of Artsakh” -Arthur Khachatryan
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 More“The problem is not resources or power, the problem is how you put forward your goals”
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 More“The problem is not resources or power, the problem is how you put forward your goals”
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 More“Turkish threats are going to disappear only when there is no Armenia” - Varuzhan Geghamyan
“Turkish threats are going to disappear only when there is no Armenia” - Varuzhan Geghamyan
“Current Armenian government blames everyone, but themselves, Azerbaijan and Turkey.” -Aram Orbelyan
This is Day 11 of the complete blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan. More than 120 thousand
Read More“Current Armenian government blames everyone, but themselves, Azerbaijan and Turkey.” -Aram Orbelyan
This is Day 11 of the complete blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan. More than 120 thousand
Read More“Armenia has to draw a red line - Artsakh can never be part of Azerbaijan” -Hayk Mamijanyan
This is Day 9 of the blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan.
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 very serious humanitarian crisis in progress.
Links: