Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev (Ilham Heydarovich Aliyev) - politician, President of Azerbaijan from 2003 to the present.
He took the place of his father Heydar Aliyev, who ruled the state from 1993 to 2003.
According to foreign analysts, under the leadership of the current head of Azerbaijan, the situation in the republic is stable and politically calm. Perhaps that is why Ilham Aliyev was elected by his people to the main post for 4 consecutive terms.
Biography
Ilham Aliyev was born in the capital of Azerbaijan, the city of Baku, in 1961, in winter, on December 24. His father, Heydar Aliyev, at that time was the head of the republican counterintelligence service of the KGB, Zarife Aliyev's mother worked as an ophthalmologist. In the family, this was the second child, considered a late child, because the first-born, daughter Sevil, was born 6 years earlier, when both were 32 years old.
Education
At school, the future president was the same as his peers, studied, giving preference not to technical, but to the humanities, fought with classmates, but never once allowed himself to show weakness, hiding behind authoritative parents or complaining to them.
After successfully graduating from school in 1977, he independently entered the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), and then in 1982 for graduate school.
Career and business
In 1985, after he defended his dissertation, Ilham Aliyev decided to start teaching at the institution where he studied, MGIMO.
But it didn't work out for a long time at this place. Due to the difficult political situation in the country, then still the USSR, his father Heydar Aliyev had to leave his post. And then Ilham Aliyev changed his field of activity - from teaching to business. In 1991 he took up the post of the head of the firm "Orient", and in 1992 he changed his place of residence, moving to Turkey, since his commercial activity was closely connected with this state.
In 1993, Heydar Aliyev occupied the main post of the republic - the post of the president of Azerbaijan, and Ilham Aliyev returned home, where he became vice president.
However, he did not stay at this place for long. From 1994 to 2003, Ilham Aliyev worked as the head of the State Oil Company "SOCAR", which was developing and implementing projects in the field of oil fields. Ilham Aliyev's activities have brought great benefits to the Republic of Azerbaijan due to the signing of the so-called "contract of the century" with foreign partners, which ensured a large inflow of investments in the oil industry of the republic.
1995 and 2000 were no less successful in the field of politics of the heir to Heydar Aliyev. During this period, he was elected to the parliament of the Milli Mejlis, where, on his own initiative, he was engaged in the construction of sports complexes with the aim of developing sports among young people. In 1997, he became the head of the National Olympic Committee, and his work was rightfully appreciated with the Order of the International Olympic Committee.
From 1999 to 2003, Ilham Aliyev is actively involved in the political issues of the republic.
1999 - deputy leader of the pro-presidential political force "New Azerbaijan", 2001 - 2003 - head of the PACE parliamentary delegation, later deputy chairman.
Presidency
In 2003, father and son nominate their candidates for the presidency, later the father was removed from the elections, and Ilham Aliyev became the new president.
The beginning of activity in a senior position goes through the dissatisfaction of political organizations and protests with human sacrifices organized by them. It was not easy for the son of the former head of the republic, because those who were dissatisfied with the new president still remained in posts, because they could not manage him in their own interests. Aliyev Jr. took two years to change the previous composition and achieve a certain stability in the republic's policy.
But not for long. In 2005, an attempt was planned and carried out to achieve a new president. Then the current government was protected, and several officials, politicians and top leaders of national corporations were arrested after the incident.
In 2008, the president wins the elections again. A year later, an amendment was made to the legislation of the republic on the possibility of one person to hold the presidency for more than two terms. By that period, the standard of living had increased significantly, and this amendment did not cause discontent among the people, unlike the opposition.
Ilham Aliyev also showed his abilities in the presidential chair, thereby proving that he took this place not because his father brought him, but because of his professionalism and personal qualities. This proves the increase in the level and quality of life of the people of Azerbaijan.
By 2010, there was a 34% decrease in poverty, an increase in the number of jobs and an increase in economic indicators in general, mainly due to the competent increase and distribution of natural resources - oil and gas.
In addition, the leader of the republic managed to reach friendly agreements with the Russian Federation and Iran.
Personal life of the President of Azerbaijan
Ilham Aliyev's wife is Mehriban, a representative of one of the respected and influential families of the republic, the daughter of the scientist Mir Jalal Pashayev.
The couple got married in 1983. Two years later, daughter Leila was born (1985), then daughter Arzu (1989) and son Heydar (1997).
The most famous of the children is daughter Leila, a beauty who in 2006 married Emin Agalarov, the son of a famous businessman, one of the richest people in our country, Araz Agalarov, who, among other things, is one of the owners of the Crocus Group concern. The couple had twin sons and later had an adopted daughter. In 2015, Leila and Emin announced a divorce, but they are raising children together. The middle daughter Arzu is happily married to businessman Samed Kurbanov, and is raising a son, Aydin.
The people love and respect the president's wife Mehriban Aliyeva. She has been carrying out charitable activities for many years, managing the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.
In February 2017, she rightfully becomes the first vice president of Azerbaijan.
Ilham Aliyev is a worthy head of friendly Azerbaijan, where education, respect, honor, kindness and pride for his people are in the first place.
