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 is the son of the previous president, Heydar Aliyev, and has led the New Azerbaijan Party since 2005.
Aliyev briefly served as prime minister for his father before being elected to office in a presidential election defined by irregularities, shortly before his father's death. He was re-elected for a second term in 2008 and was allowed to run in elections indefinitely after the 2009 constitutional referendum removed presidential term limits, winning subsequent elections in 2013, 2018 and 2024. His wife, Mehriban Aliyeva, has been vice president since 2017.
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 as in the country’s oil and gas sector. In 2012, Aliyev was named the "Person of the Year" by Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project for featuring prominently in stories on crime and corruption. In 2017, it was revealed that Aliyev and his family were involved in the Azerbaijani laundromat, a complex money-laundering scheme to pay off prominent European politicians to deflect criticism of Aliyev and promote a positive image of his regime.
Aliyev is widely considered a dictator, presiding over an authoritarian government characterized by the absence of free and fair elections, pervasive corruption, and serious human rights violations. Aliyev’s regime is also known for promoting Sunnification, and the suppression of Shia Islam to tighten control, and align with Turkey. His regime is known for the harassment of journalists and non-governmental organizations, as well as the ethnic cleansing of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh. During Aliyev's presidency, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict escalated into a full-fledged war in 2020 and — following a military siege and renewed offensive in 2023 — expelled all Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh and reincorporated the territory into Azerbaijan.
Ilham Aliyev is the son of Heydar Aliyev, president of Azerbaijan from 1993 to 2003. His mother Zarifa Aliyeva was an Azerbaijani ophthalmologist. He also has an older sister, Sevil Aliyeva. In 1977, Ilham Aliyev entered the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO-MSIIR) and in 1982, continued his education as a postgraduate. In 1985, he received a PhD degree in history. From 1985 to 1990 Aliyev lectured at MSIIR. From 1991 to 1994, he led a group of private industrial-commercial enterprises. In 1994–2003, he was vice-president, and later the first vice-president of SOCAR, the state-owned Azerbaijani oil and gas company. Since 1997, Aliyev has been the president of the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan.
In 1999, Ilham Aliyev was elected as the deputy chair of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party and in 2001, he was elected to the post of first deputy chair at the Second Congress of the Party. At the third Congress of the New Azerbaijan Party held on March 26, 2005, President Aliyev and the first deputy of the Party was unanimously elected to the post of chairman of the Party. The fourth and fifth congresses of the party held in 2008 and 2013 unanimously supported his nomination for the next presidential term. In 1995, Aliyev was elected to the Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan; later he became president of the National Olympic Committee (still incumbent). From 2001 to 2003, Aliyev was head of the Azerbaijani delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
Prime Minister of Azerbaijan (2003)
In 2002, a constitutional referendum in Azerbaijan made the prime minister next in line for the presidency if the president became incapacitated. By early 2003, Heydar Aliyev's health had significantly declined, fueling speculation about his ability to continue serving office.
On 4 August 2003, Ilham Aliyev, his son, was appointed prime minister amidst his Heydar's illness, absence from public life, and rumours of his death, a move that many saw as preparing him to eventually succeed his father as president. After his appointment, Ilham Aliyev dismissed the rumours about his Heydar's death, emphasizing his father's recovery in a televised address.
Ilham Aliyev's appointment as prime minister was confirmed by a National Assembly vote, with 101 out of 125 deputies supporting his nomination. However, opposition parties boycotted the vote, expressing concerns that this move was part of an effort to establish a political dynasty and limit democratic processes. They argued that Ilham's appointment was an attempt to maintain power within the Aliyev family, bypassing a more open and competitive political system.
During his brief tenure as prime minister, Ilham Aliyev focused on continuing policies implemented by Heydar, particularly in terms of Azerbaijan's economy and foreign relations. He assured both the public and international community that there would be no significant changes in government direction. Despite this, the opposition criticized the appointment, calling it an "undemocratic power grab". Observers also pointed to the ongoing concentration of power within the ruling elite as a concern for Azerbaijan's political future.
Ilham Aliyev sought for the presidency in the October 2003 election, but Azerbaijan's election law prohibited him from doing so while serving as prime minister. As a result, he remained in the position, but his duties were temporarily assumed by Artur Rasizade, who became acting prime minister following Aliyev's leave of absence on August 6, 2003. This arrangement allowed Aliyev to focus on his presidential campaign while retaining his position as prime minister until the election.
President of Azerbaijan (2003–present)
The official results of the October 15, 2003 elections gave victory to Ilham Aliyev, who earned 76.84% of the votes. The election was defined by election fraud. Human Rights Watch and the Institute for Democracy in Eastern Europe documented arrests of opposition candidates, police violence against journalists and participants in election rallies, and "widespread fraud and abuse" in the conduct of the election itself. Despite these allegations, Aliyev was inaugurated as President of Azerbaijan on 31 October 2003. Following his inauguration, Aliyev appointed Artur Rasizade as Prime Minister, whose nomination was approved by the parliament on 4 November 2003. Rasizade had previously held the position of Prime Minister under Aliyev's father, Heydar Aliyev, and continued to serve in an acting capacity.
Aliyev worked to consolidate his power both politically and economically. One of his first major actions was the creation of the "Foundation for Combating Corruption in Azerbaijan" in 2004. This initiative was aimed at addressing widespread corruption within government institutions and improving public sector accountability. Despite the establishment of this foundation, critics argued that the reforms were insufficient, and corruption remained prevalent within the ruling elite.
In the energy sector, Aliyev focused on solidifying Azerbaijan's role as an important player in the global oil market. A key milestone in his first term was the completion of the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline in May 2005. This major infrastructure project allowed Azerbaijan to export oil to international markets, particularly to Europe and the United States, and significantly boosted the country's economic profile. The pipeline further reinforced Azerbaijan's strategic importance as an energy supplier, linking the Caspian Sea region to the global market while bypassing Russia and Iran.
Politically, Aliyev faced significant challenges from opposition groups, particularly in the 2005 parliamentary elections. The elections were marred by widespread allegations of fraud, electoral malpractice, and the restriction of opposition parties’ activities. Despite the opposition's gains in certain regions, the elections were widely considered unfair. Protests erupted in response to the results, with demonstrators accusing the government of rigging the vote. However, the protests were quickly suppressed by the government's security forces, and many opposition leaders were arrested. Aliyev's government responded by tightening control over the media and cracking down on dissent.