The Lachin corridor was a mountain road in Azerbaijan that linked Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh .
81-546: Being the only road between these two territories, it was considered a humanitarian corridor or "lifeline" to the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh. The corridor is in the Lachin District of Azerbaijan , but was ostensibly under the control of a Russian peacekeeping force as provided for in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh armistice agreement . The territory of the corridor included the villages of Zabukh , Sus and
162-722: A full-scale war in 2020 in which Azerbaijan regained control over the Armenian-occupied territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh that were lost during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War , as well as a part of Nagorno-Karabakh region itself. Then, in the fall of 2023, Azerbaijan initiated a military offensive in the disputed region which ended with the surrender of the self-declared Republic of Artsakh and mass displacement of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh . Ilham Aliyev
243-716: A renewed offensive in September 2023 , Azerbaijani forces took control of the entirety of Nagorno-Karabakh, which was followed by the exodus of almost all of the Armenian inhabitants of Nagorno-Karabakh into Armenia through the Lachin corridor. 39°36′31″N 46°32′41″E / 39.60861°N 46.54472°E / 39.60861; 46.54472 Lachin District 39°38′0″N 46°33′0″E / 39.63333°N 46.55000°E / 39.63333; 46.55000 Lachin District ( Azerbaijani : Laçın rayonu )
324-561: A Russian peacekeeping force. In 1936, from a total of 20,356 people: In 1979, from a total of 47,261 people: In 1981, the population was 51,000, counting 121 settlements. 9 of these settlements were Kurdish. In 1989, the population was a total of 47,339 people. It was originally known as Abdalyar or Abdallyar (after the Turkic Abdal tribe ). It was granted town status in 1923 and renamed Lachin (a Turkic first name meaning falcon ) in 1926. Between 1923 and 1929, Lachin
405-526: A final score of just 2%. Human rights activists have criticized Aliyev's record on LGBT rights. Azerbaijan's oil wealth has made it possible for the country to host lavish international events. Aliyev is the president of the National Olympic Committee since 1997. During his presidency, Azerbaijan hosted some international sports events such as the 2015 European Games , 4th Islamic Solidarity Games and 42nd Chess Olympiad and
486-409: 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 is the president of the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan. In 1999, Ilham Aliyev was elected as the deputy chair of the ruling party New Azerbaijan Party and in 2001, he was elected to
567-598: A journalist for BBC visited the road, reporting that "since the war, Armenians have had no control over who and what uses this road", adding that control is now up to the Russians. Azerbaijan said that it installed video surveillance cameras along the Lachin corridor. Being the only road that connects Nagorno-Karabakh to the Republic of Armenia , it has often been described as a "lifeline" to and for residents of Nagorno-Karabakh. In August 2022, Azerbaijan built its part of
648-450: A mission that claimed that the elections were up to "German standards"; however, Lintner's group had been paid 819,500 euros through the laundromat moneylaundering scheme. According to the OCCRP , there is "ample evidence of its connection to the family of President Aliyev." Ilham Aliyev got 86.02% of votes in the 2018 presidential election. Major opposition parties did not participate in
729-531: A mosque (1718), a palace (1716), a bridge (18th century) are registered architectural monuments in the territory of Lachin. Lachin was captured on May 18, 1992, by the Armenian armed forces during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War . As part of an agreement that ended the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War most of the district was returned to Azerbaijani control by 1 December 2020. This excludes the Lachin corridor which
810-434: A new smartphone application intended to allow citizens to watch the ballot counting in real time, and instead the app accidentally showed the results of the election before the election had taken place. The Central Election Commission tried to justify the incident by saying that the initially displayed results were those of the 2008 election, even though the candidates listed, including Jamil Hasanli in second place, were from
891-573: A positive image of his regime. Many observers see Aliyev as a dictator . He leads an authoritarian regime in Azerbaijan; elections are not free and fair, political power is concentrated in the hands of Aliyev and his extended family, corruption is rampant, and human rights violations are severe (including torture , arbitrary arrests , as well as harassment of journalists and non-governmental organizations ). The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict continued during Aliyev's presidency and devolved into
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#1732765612234972-598: A speech delivered on 15 July 2020, during the 2020 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes , President Aliyev targeted the largest opposition party, the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan . He declared that "we need to finish with the ' fifth column " and the Popular Front "worse than the Armenians". According to Azerbaijani sources as many as 120 people are currently held in jail, including some deputy leaders of
1053-544: Is an administrative rayon in the Republic of Azerbaijan. Established in 1930. Situated in the Lesser Caucasus, in the south-west of Azerbaijan. Bordered by Armenia on the west. It occupies an area of 1,835 square kilometres (708 sq mi), while the population is 68,900 (as of 01.01.2006). The capital is the city of Lachin. The area is mountainous. Lachin extends to the south-western slope of Karabakh ridge on
1134-406: Is an agricultural region. Cattle-breeding occupies has a major place in its economy. There are 149 secondary schools, 2 pre-school and 5 extracurricular educational institutions, a vocational school, a children creativity center, 85 clubs, 119 libraries, 5 music schools, and 142 health facilities in the rayon. The cave-temple (5th century), mausoleums (14th–19th century), a castle (17th century),
1215-621: Is being sued for defamation in London by Azerbaijani MP, Javanshir Feyziyev , over two articles in OCCRP's award-winning Azerbaijan Laundromat series about money-laundering out of Azerbaijan. Ismayilova, OCCRP's lead reporter in Azerbaijan, is a key witness in the case. Aliyev was also included on a list of figures (others being the Minister of Emergency Situations Kamaladdin Heydarov , head of
1296-558: Is from −10–0 °C (14–32 °F) in January, to 10–22 °C (50–72 °F) in July. Annual precipitation is 600–900 millimetres (24–35 in). The rayon's river is Hakari and its tributaries. The most spread soil types are sod mountainous-meadow, brown mountainous-forest and carbonate mountainous-black. The vegetation comprises bushy and rare woods, deciduous mountain forests (oak, hornbeam, beech), sub-alpine and alpine meadows. Lachin
1377-678: Is not the right option and he hopes that there can be a resumption of negotiations." During the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War , in which France supported Azerbaijan's adversary Armenia , Aliyev demanded that French president Emmanuel Macron apologize for accusing Azerbaijan of using Syrian mercenaries . On 6 February 2004, Aliyev and Vladimir Putin , the president of Russia, signed the Moscow Declaration, which stated principles of relations between Azerbaijan and Russia. On 16 February 2005 Aliyev participated in
1458-556: Is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan . It is located in the west of the country, belonging to the East Zangezur Economic Region . The district borders the districts of Kalbajar , Khojaly , Shusha , Khojavend , Qubadli , and the Syunik Province of Armenia . Its capital and largest city is Lachin . As of 2020, the district had a nominal population of 78,600. The territory of the district
1539-542: Is rampant in Azerbaijan. According to Transparency International, Azerbaijan scores just 30 on the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index , indicating a serious problem with corruption. On 8 August 2017, Transparency Azerbaijan announced that it had scaled back its operations in the capital city of Baku, because the government would not approve an extension of the funding as it comes from outside
1620-416: Is rampant, and human rights violations are severe (which included torture , arbitrary arrests , as well as harassment of journalists and non-governmental organizations ). Many observers see Aliyev as a dictator. Human rights violations in Azerbaijan during Aliyev's presidency include torture , arbitrary arrests and harassment of journalists and non-governmental organizations . In
1701-539: 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
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#17327656122341782-619: The Airbus Defence and Space Division. during a meeting with French entrepreneurs, he stated that the activities of some companies in the Republic of Artsakh is "unacceptable and violates international and national laws". Following his visit, Aliyev met with the French president in the Elysee Palace . French president Francois Hollande made a press statement in which he stated that "the status quo in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
1863-953: The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) of the EU. In 2006, Aliyev and Matti Vanhanen , president of the European Council, and José Manuel Barroso , president of the commission, signed the Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Partnership. In 2009, Azerbaijan was included in the Eastern Partnership Policy . In 2011, Aliyev and José Manuel Barroso concluded the Joint Declaration on the Southern Gas Corridor . On 6 February 2017, Aliyev visited Brussels ,
1944-581: The Khojaly massacre , in which Azerbaijan claims that 613 Azerbaijanis had been massacred by the Armenian irregular forces and the 366th CIS regiment of the Soviet Union 20 years earlier, Human Rights Watch claims that 200+ Azerbaijanis were massacred, Aliyev posted on his official website: "Our main enemies are Armenians of the world and the hypocritical and corrupt politicians that they control". During his speech, Ilham Aliyev noted: "I once said that
2025-684: The ceasefire agreement does not explicitly limit the use of the Lachin corridor to humanitarian needs. After a renewed offensive in September 2023 , Azerbaijani forces took control of the entirety of Nagorno-Karabakh, which was followed by the exodus of almost all of the Armenian inhabitants of Nagorno-Karabakh into Armenia through the Lachin corridor. During the First Nagorno-Karabakh War , Nagorno-Karabakh and neighbouring Armenia were blockaded in August 1989, with Azerbaijan severing transport and economic links both between Armenia and Azerbaijan and between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia. In May 1992, forces of
2106-824: The 120,000 Armenian residents of Nagorno-Karabakh at risk of humanitarian crisis. The blockade was condemned by France, Greece, the Netherlands, Russia, Canada, and a number of other countries. The issue was also discussed in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe . On April 23, 2023, Azerbaijani officials set up a checkpoint in the corridor, claiming it was meant to prevent "illegal" transport of military supplies and natural resources. These claims were earlier denied by Armenian authorities. On 29 July 2023, Azerbaijani troops detained Vagif Khachatryan, an Armenian resident of Nagorno-Karabakh, while he
2187-452: The 2013 ballot. Aliyev's main rivals in the election were Jamil Hasanli and Igbal Agazade. In 2013, Amnesty International called on western leaders to speak up against the arrest of Anar Mammadli , prominent human rights activist and head of the independent Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Centre, who was falsely charged with tax evasion and illegal business activity, after his organisation had reported widespread violations during
2268-541: The 2016 European Grand Prix . Aliyev attended various opening and award ceremonies where he awarded the winning prizes. Upon becoming president in 2003, Aliyev was positioned to enjoy a booming economy fueled by the oil and gas sector; Azerbaijan had the world's fastest rate of economic growth in the three-year period from 2005–2007. Azerbaijan's oil riches strengthened the stability of Aliyev's regime and enriched ruling elites in Azerbaijan. However, periods of low oil prices , as well as inflation , weakened
2349-524: The Aliyev family was implicated in the Azerbaijani laundromat scandal, which was 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 rules an authoritarian regime in Azerbaijan, as elections are not free and fair, power is concentrated in the hands of Aliyev and his extended family, corruption
2430-469: The Aliyevs' offshore companies, that Ilham and Mehriban Aliyevs had no legal right to open offshore companies, and that when these companies were opened, measures were taken to conceal the real owners. When registering the companies, Aliyev's daughters indicated property worth about $ 6 million. Investigation of Swedish television showed that offshore companies controlled by Aliyevs received from TeliaSonera
2511-628: The Azerbaijani economy and slowed economic growth. Aliyev continued the neopatrimonial system inherited from his father. Azerbaijan's oligarchic system inhibited smaller businesses and blocked foreign investment outside the fossil fuels sector. Persistent pledges by Aliyev and Azerbaijani elites to prioritize economic diversification yielded few major results, as the country remained largely depended on oil and gas. The International Monetary Fund has urged Azerbaijan to diverse its economy. Efforts to economically liberalize were inhibited by
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2592-448: The Azerbaijani flag" in a 2021 social media video. The three men were later said to have had their criminal charges dropped "considering the age of the accused individuals, their sincere remorse, and compliance with the requirements of procedural legislation." According to the APA news agency, the three will spend 10 days in administrative detention before being expelled from Azerbaijan. After
2673-425: The Azerbaijani regime engages in extensive lobbying efforts, using complex money-laundering and bribery schemes discovered during the Azerbaijani laundromat scandal, such as Caviar diplomacy , to pay off prominent European politicians to deflect and whitewash criticism of Aliyev and promote a positive image of his regime and gain support for Azerbaijani projects. During Aliyev's presidency, in 2019, Azerbaijan
2754-474: The Electoral Code in accordance with OSCE and Council of Europe requirements and standards, which include inking of voters, more transparency of voter lists, and the prohibition of government interference in the election process. During the 2008 presidential elections, PACE observers included a large group of frankly pro-Azerbaijani MPs. The variant of the statement on elections, prepared by the head of
2835-520: The NATO-led " Resolute Support " mission in Afghanistan. On 10 January 2017 Ilham Aliyev announced 2017 as the year of Islamic Solidarity and allocated funds to organize the related events. In 2014 and 2015, Aliyev allocated funds from Presidential Reserve Fund multiple time towards efforts to promote "interreligious dialogue and tolerance" and to restore monuments in Azerbaijan. Corruption
2916-510: The Nagorno-Karbakh Republic captured Lachin and established a land connection with Armenia, ending the blockade. After the end of the war, the status of the Lachin corridor was one of the major issues of the peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Various configurations were proposed for the status of the corridor. In one round of negotiations in 1999, it was proposed that Azerbaijan would accept Armenian control over
2997-556: The Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva ) accused of accepting bribes of 1,000,000$ USD from MP candidates to guarantee their "election win" and inclusion to the parliament. This high-level corruption scandal is widely called the Gulargate . Azerbaijan's oil wealth has made it possible for the regime to engage in extensive lobbying efforts. In 2017,
3078-613: The Swedish telecommunications company, a factual bribe in the form of shares of Azercell cellular operator in the amount of 600–700 million dollars (due to the estimate of 2005), which was purchased for only 6.5 million dollars. In a resolution on 10 September 2015, the European Parliament called on the EU authorities to conduct a thorough investigation of allegations of corruption against Ilham Aliyev and his family members. Journalist Khadija Ismayilova , who worked for
3159-532: The United States government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty , carried out journalistic investigations, and claimed that Aliyev's family controlled some companies such as " Azerfon ", "Azenco", and assets worth $ 3 billion in the largest Azerbaijani banks. Ismayilova was later detained in December 2014 and sentenced in September 2015 to 7 + 1 ⁄ 2 years in prison on trumped-up charges. She
3240-710: The act based over the Naghorno Karabakh conflict between the two countries from 1988 to 1994. Safarov had been tried and sentenced to life imprisonment in Hungary. However, after being extradited to Azerbaijan, Safarov received a hero's welcome, promoted to the rank of major, and given an apartment and over eight years of back pay, covering the time he had spent in jail. While in office, Aliyev has made numerous anti-Armenian statements, and claiming historically Armenian territory for Azerbaijan. Shortly after thousands of Azerbaijani people gathered to commemorate
3321-554: The aftermath of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War , which ended with a Russian-brokered armistice , the Lachin corridor became the sole connection between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. The armistice agreement provided: The Republic of Armenia shall return [...] the Lachin District by December 1, 2020. The Lachin Corridor (5 km wide), which will provide a connection between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia while not passing through
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3402-547: The alternate route to the south that passes by the villages of Mets Shen/Boyuk Galadarasi and Hin Shen/Kichik Galadarasi opened for use. On 12 December 2022, citizens of Azerbaijan claiming to be "eco-activists" launched a blockade of the Lachin corridor, leaving 1,100 people, including 270 children, unable to return to their homes. This was followed by Azerbaijan cutting off the gas supply from Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh (between 13 and 16 December), putting
3483-698: The authorities' fear of political liberalization. Currency devaluation has been another economic challenge under Aliyev's tenure. In a rare public criticism of other government officials, Aliyev criticized his Economy Minister Shakhin Mustafayev and other Cabinet members for frequently shifting economic forecasts, and for seeking to block economic reforms by blackmailing and denigrating other officials. The Aliyev family have enriched themselves through their ties to state-run businesses. They own significant parts of several major Azerbaijani banks, construction firms and telecommunications firms, as well as partially own
3564-625: The capital of the EU, where he paid visits to High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy , with the president of the European Council , Commission President, and the Commissioner for Energy Union. which resulted in signing the "Partnership Priorities" between EU and Azerbaijan on 11 July 2018. During 12–15 March 2017, Aliyev made an official visit to France and met with executive officials of international companies SUEZ , DCNS , CIFAL , Space Systems in
3645-761: The ceremony of opening the Year of Azerbaijan in Russia. On 29 June 2006, Ilham Aliyev and Dmitry Medvedev , former president of the Russian Federation, concluded a joint statement on the Caspian Sea . In 2018, Aliyev and Putin signed Joint Statement on Priority Areas of Economic Cooperation between the two countries. Aliyev met with Russian and Iranian leaders in Baku in 2016 to discuss terrorism, transnational organized crime, arms smuggling and drug trafficking in
3726-439: The city of Lachin itself until 2022. On 26 August 2022, these settlements were transferred to Azerbaijani control. Four days later, a new route to the south was opened for use that bypasses the settlements of Zabukh, Sus and Lachin and instead passes by the villages of Mets Shen/Boyuk Galadarasi and Hin Shen/Kichik Galadarasi . Azerbaijan conducted a blockade of the Lachin corridor from December 2022 to September 2023, which
3807-411: The city of Lachin. On August 26, control of the Lachin District was transferred to Azerbaijan. Artsakh authorities gave the residents of the villages along the corridor 20 days' notice to evacuate. While Aliyev promised that long-term Armenian residents of Nagorno-Karabakh would be treated as citizens, he branded the remaining residents as illegal settlers and demanded that they be removed. In March 2021,
3888-584: The conduct of the election itself. Ilham Aliyev was re-elected in 2008 with 87% of the polls. A total of seven candidates filed to run in the election who had to collect 40,000 voter signatures. According to the report of the Election Observation Delegation from the European Parliament the elections took place with no reported unrest and few minor electoral violations. The report also highlights numerous reforms to
3969-471: The corridor in exchange for a land corridor through southern Armenia to connect it to its exclave Nakhchivan . In a statement to the United Nations on 18 September 2005, Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov stated that Azerbaijan was in favor of the deployment of a multinational peacekeeping force "at the initial stage" to ensure security along the Lachin corridor for bilateral use. In
4050-544: The country's oil and gas industries. Much of the wealth is hidden in offshore companies. The 2021 Pandora Papers leaks showed that the Aliyev family built a vast offshore network to hide their money. The family and their close associates have secretly been involved in property deals in the UK worth more than £400 million. Andrew Higgins, writing in The Washington Post , stated in 2010 that Azerbaijanis with
4131-453: The country's oil and gas industries. Much of the wealth is hidden through an elaborate network of offshore companies. Aliyev was named Corruption's 'Person of the Year' by Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project in 2012. 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
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#17327656122344212-448: The country's president on 31 October 2003, after a two-month term as prime minister of Azerbaijan , through a presidential election defined by irregularities shortly before his father's death. He was reelected 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. Throughout his electoral campaign, Aliyev
4293-404: The country. According to Transparency International "The blanket ban on foreign grants has brought the country's civil society to a halt and has dealt a devastating blow to civic initiatives across the board". Discrimination against LGBT people is severe in Azerbaijan. In 2020, ILGA-Europe again declared Azerbaijan the worst country in all of Europe for LGBT rights, with the country receiving
4374-475: The east, to the south-eastern slope of Mikhtokan ridge on the north, to Karabakh plateau on the south-west. The highest point is the Qızılboga mountain (3594 m). Jurassic-anthropogenic sediments are spread. The rayon has mineral resources such as mercury, polymetals, building materials, Narzan-type mineral water springs. Mild warm and cold climate with dry winters prevails over most of the area. The average temperature
4455-628: The election, and evidence indicates that the election was fraudulent. Azerbaijani foreign relations under Aliyev included strengthened cooperation with the European Union (EU), strong economic ties with Russia , cooperation with NATO via the NATO–Azerbaijan Individual Partnership Action Plan , and close relations with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). using Azerbaijan's oil wealth,
4536-557: The election. Observers from the OSCE / ODIHR spoke of restrictions on freedom of speech during elections. The US State Department described the elections as not meeting international standards, and expressing solidarity with the ODIHR's assessment. There was a controversy over election observers who had allegedly been paid by the Azerbaijani regime through the Azerbaijani laundromat scandal. A German former lawmaker Eduard Lintner led
4617-429: The government of Hungary to transfer convicted murderer Ramil Safarov to Azerbaijan to complete the rest of his prison term. While attending a NATO-sponsored English-language course in Hungary, Safarov had murdered an Armenian lieutenant, Gurgen Margaryan , who was also taking the course, while Margaryan was asleep. Safarov admitted that he committed the crime and surrendered himself to the police. Safarov has justified
4698-458: The group of observers Andreas Herkel, containing critical remarks, faced the rejection of the pro-Azerbaijani group consisting of Michael Hancock, Eduard Lintner and Paul Ville. Herkel was forced to declare his resignation if criticism did not go into the statement. During the referendum, which lifted the limits on the number of presidential terms for Ilham Aliyev, four PACE deputies – Eduard Litner, Paul Ville, Khaki Keskin and Pedro Agramunt evaluated
4779-563: The party as well as journalists. On 20 July the U.S. State Department urged Azerbaijan to avoid using the pandemic to silence "civil society advocacy, opposition voices, or public discussion". These actions are widely seen as an attempt "to eliminate pro-democracy advocates and political rivals once and for all". According to RFE/RL , "Aliyev's authoritarian rule has shut down independent media outlets and suppressed opposition parties while holding elections deemed neither free nor fair by international monitoring groups". In 2012, Aliyev convinced
4860-495: The person of the year in organized crime and corruption. Also in 2012, CNBC produced the film Filthy Rich about corruption which also mentioned the Aliyev family. According to a 2013 investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), the Aliyev family owned at least four offshore companies directly connected with Hassan Gozal. ICIJ stated that family members never declared
4941-413: The population" under Azerbaijan's Criminal Code. On 28 August 2023, three young Armenian men from Nagorno-Karabakh, Alen Sargsyan, Vahe Hovsepyan and Levon Grigoryan, were detained by Azerbaijani security forces while passing through the Lachin corridor to Armenia. The men were being escorted by Russian peacekeepers. Azerbaijani authorities and media said that the men were being charged with "disrespecting
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#17327656122345022-598: The post of first deputy chair at the Second Congress of the Party. At the third Congress of the New Azerbaijan Party held on 26 March 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
5103-498: The referendum as the progress of democracy. In a constitutional referendum in 2009 , term limits for the presidency were abolished. The opposition claimed this to be a violation of the Azerbaijani constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights . European Commission said the step "signalled a serious setback". In the 2013 presidential elections held on 9 October, Aliyev claimed victory with 85 percent of
5184-964: The region. the trilateral summit signed a declaration to develop the International North–South Transport Corridor , which would run from India to Saint Petersburg , providing better alternatives to existing sea routes. Aliyev has met with multiple U.S. presidents during his tenure: George W. Bush , Barack Obama , and Donald Trump . During Aliyev's presidency, Azerbaijan joined the Individual Partnership Action Plan . Azerbaijan has completed NATO-Azerbaijan Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) documents for three periods. Ilham Aliyev introduced Azerbaijan's first IPAP to NATO in Brussels on 19 May 2014. Aliyev has attended several NATO summits and other meetings. Azerbaijan contributed to
5265-478: The road around Lachin, while Armenia had not. On 2 August, the local Armenian authorities reported that the Azerbaijani side had conveyed to them a demand to organize communication with Armenia along a different route, bypassing the existing one. Following the renewed clashes around Lachin , Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan stated that Azerbaijan's demand for the Lachin corridor
5346-594: The same names as Ilham Aliyev's three children owned real estate in Dubai worth about $ 75 million. Higgins stated that some members of the family are indeed wealthy, such as the president's older daughter, Leyla, married to Emin Agalarov, a Russian billionaire, and relatives of the first lady who have businesses in Azerbaijan. In 2012, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project called Ilham Aliyev
5427-399: The security of persons, vehicles and cargo moving along the Lachin Corridor in both directions. Following the ceasefire, around 200 Armenians remained in the Lachin corridor, with 30 of them in Sus , 100 to 120 in Lachin , and over 40 in Zabukh (Aghavno). President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev announced that a new corridor would be built in the region, as the Lachin corridor passes through
5508-440: The territory of Shusha, shall remain under the control of the Russian Federation peacemaking forces. As agreed by the Parties, within the next three years, a plan will be outlined for the construction of a new route via the Lachin Corridor, to provide a connection between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, and the Russian peacemaking forces shall be subsequently relocated to protect the route. The Republic of Azerbaijan shall guarantee
5589-427: The vote, securing a third five-year term. The election results were accidentally released before the polls opened. Election observation delegations from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament claimed to have observed a free, fair and transparent electoral process with no evidence of voter intimidation. A day before voting began, however, the Central Election Commission released
5670-570: Was a member of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party , which he has headed since 2005. Azerbaijan being oil-rich is viewed to have significantly strengthened the stability of Aliyev's regime and enriched ruling elites in Azerbaijan, making it possible for the country to host lavish international events, as well as engage in extensive lobbying efforts. Aliyev's family have enriched themselves through their ties to state-run businesses. They own significant parts of several major Azerbaijani banks, construction firms and telecommunications firms, and partially own
5751-441: Was actively underway and would be completed the spring of 2023. On 5 August, local Armenian authorities told the residents of Lachin, as well as Zabukh and Sus, to leave their homes by 25 August, after which the towns would be handed over to Azerbaijan. Some of the Armenian inhabitants burned their houses down. As of 26 August, Azerbaijan regained control of villages in the Lachin corridor, including Lachin, Sus, and Zabukh. Soon after,
5832-551: Was appointed as prime minister . The official results of the 15 October 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
5913-496: Was conditionally released in May 2016, in 2020 she was still subject to a travel ban and had been unable to leave the country despite numerous applications to do so. Lawyers will be seeking permission for Ismayilova to travel to the UK to give evidence in the trial of Paul Radu , a Romanian journalist who is co-founder and executive director of investigative reporting group OCCRP (the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project ). Radu
5994-438: Was controlled by Russian peacekeeping forces in accordance with the agreement. Ilham Aliyev Ilham Heydar oghlu Aliyev ( Azerbaijani : İlham Heydər oğlu Əliyev [ilˈhɑm hejˈdæɾ oɣˈlu æˈlijev] ; born 24 December 1961) is an Azerbaijani politician who has been the fourth and current president of Azerbaijan since 2003. The son and second child of former Azerbaijani president Heydar Aliyev , Aliyev became
6075-461: Was criticized by numerous countries, international organizations, and human rights groups, many of which considered it a violation of the ceasefire agreement that ended the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War . On April 23, 2023, Azerbaijani officials set up a checkpoint in the corridor, claiming it was meant to prevent "illegal" transport of military supplies and natural resources, however, the republics of Armenia and Artsakh have denied these allegations and
6156-677: Was crossing through the Lachin corridor to Armenia for medical treatment. Khachatryan was part of a larger group travelling to Armenia with the help of the International Committee of the Red Cross . Khachatryan was then taken to Baku. Azerbaijani authorities allege that Khachatryan was involved in violence against Azerbaijanis in the village of Meshali during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, charging him with "genocide" and "deportation or forced movement of
6237-628: Was elected chair of the Turkic Council , as well as Non-Aligned Movement for a three-year mandate. Ilham Aliyev attended and addressed the general debates of the 59th, 65th and 72 sessions (2004, 2010, 2017) of the UN General Assembly . Ilham Aliyev expanded cooperation with the European Union (EU) during his presidency, using caviar diplomacy as a controversial technique of persuading European officials to support Azerbaijani projects. in 2004, Azerbaijan became part of
6318-476: Was elected to the Parliament of 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 Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). In August 2003, while his father Heydar Aliyev was still formally president of Azerbaijan but was ill and absent from public events, Ilham Aliyev
6399-489: Was established as the Kurdistan Uyezd , an autonomous Soviet district. The district has one city, one settlement (Gayghi settlement) and 125 villages. It is located in the south-west of Azerbaijan and is predominantly mountainous. The district shares borders with Kalbajar district in the north, Khojaly, Shusha and Khojavand districts in the east, Gubadli district in the south and Armenia in the west. Lachin district
6480-404: Was established in 1930 and given the status of a district. The district was occupied by the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh from 1992 until late 2020, when the district was surrendered to Azerbaijan per the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement which ended the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War . A small part of the district, excluding its capital, called the Lachin corridor is controlled by
6561-425: Was unlawful, since the Armenian side has not yet agreed to any plan for the construction of a new road. Azerbaijan accused Armenia of delaying the construction of its part of the road, while the part for which Azerbaijan was responsible had already been built. On 4 August, the Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia, Gnel Sanosyan, stated that the construction of an alternative road to Lachin
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