Ilham Aliyev

About

Ilham Heydar oghlu Aliyev (born 24 December 1961) is an Azerbaijani politician and statesman who has been the fourth president of Azerbaijan since 2003. He has been the leader of the New Azerbaijan Party since 2005.
He is the son of former Azerbaijani president Heydar Aliyev and became the country’s president on 31 October 2003 after a two-month term as the prime minister of Azerbaijan, through a presidential election defined by irregularities, shortly before his father’s death. Ilham Aliyev was re-elected for a second term in 2008 and was allowed to run in elections indefinitely in 2013, 2018 and 2024 due to the 2009 constitutional referendum, which removed term limits for presidents. He is also the husband of Mehriban Aliyeva, Vice President of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan’s oil-rich territory has significantly strengthened the stability of Aliyev’s regime and enriched the nation’s ruling elite, enabling it to host lavish international events, as well as engage in extensive lobbying efforts. Aliyev’s family has also enriched itself through ties to state-run businesses. They hold significant stakes in several major Azerbaijani banks, construction and telecommunications companies, as well…