Ilham Aliyev

Stories

Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan inaugurate Trans-Caspian fiber-optic cable line

In office since 2003

The presidents of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan switched on a 380-kilometer fiber-optic cable along the Caspian seabed on October 15. The line, with capacity above 400 terabits per second, links Sumgayit in Azerbaijan to Aktau in Kazakhstan.

Updated 7 days ago

U.S. brokers Armenia-Azerbaijan peace after three decades of conflict

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Has ruled since 2003; achieved military victory over Armenian forces

No sitting U.S. president or vice president had ever visited Armenia until February 9, 2026. JD Vance arrived in Yerevan with $9 billion in potential nuclear investment, advanced Nvidia chips, and surveillance drones — the Trump administration backing its August 2025 peace framework with economic muscle.

Updated May 27

Azerbaijan sentences former Nagorno-Karabakh leaders

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: In power since 2003

For 35 years, ethnic Armenians governed themselves in Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous enclave inside Azerbaijan's internationally recognized borders. On February 5, 2026, an Azerbaijani military court sentenced 13 former leaders of that self-declared republic—including three ex-presidents—to prison terms ranging from 15 years to life. The charges: war crimes, terrorism, genocide, and crimes against humanity spanning three decades of conflict.

Updated May 27

Russia's missile downed a passenger jet. a year later, no one's been punished.

Force in Play

As of May 2026: Demanding Russia admit guilt, prosecute perpetrators, and pay compensation

On December 25, 2024, Russian anti-aircraft fire shredded an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet carrying 67 people. The pilots—hydraulics destroyed, controls failing—flew the crippled Embraer 190 across the Caspian Sea for an emergency landing.

Updated May 16

Notable Quotes

Today, we have kicked off a global project.

from Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan inaugurate Trans-Caspian fiber-optic cable line · Updated 7 days ago

Karabakh is ours! Karabakh is Azerbaijan! —Victory speech, November 2020

from Azerbaijan sentences former Nagorno-Karabakh leaders · Updated May 27

Criminals who waged a bloody war, committed vandalism, and perpetrated genocide have been arrested and will be brought to justice. —September 2023

from Azerbaijan sentences former Nagorno-Karabakh leaders · Updated May 27

The plane was shot down by Russia. First of all, the Russian side must apologize to Azerbaijan. Secondly, it must acknowledge its guilt. Thirdly, those responsible must be punished, brought to criminal responsibility, and compensation must be paid.

from Russia's missile downed a passenger jet. a year later, no one's been punished. · Updated May 16