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Ilham Aliyev, son of Heydar Aliyev, apparently has reached the presidency of Azerbaijan - 2003-10-16

Feb 9, 2026 February 9, 2026 1 min read 📰 VOA Persian
📋 Key Takeaway

Ilham Aliyev appears to have won the presidency of Azerbaijan with 80% of the votes, while opposition leader Isa Gambar claims election fraud and declares himself the winner. Protests erupted, leading to clashes with police, highlighting tensions in Azerbaijani politics.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: The election of Ilham Aliyev signifies a potential consolidation of power within the Aliyev family, raising concerns about democratic governance in Azerbaijan.

👥 Key Players

Ilham Aliyev MENTIONED
Prime Minister of Azerbaijan and presidential candidate
"As the son of the long-time President Heydar Aliyev, he represents a continuation of the Aliyev political dynasty, which has significant influence in the region."
Heydar Aliyev MENTIONED
Ailing President of Azerbaijan
"He has been a dominant figure in Azerbaijani politics for nearly 30 years, shaping the country's policies and governance."
Isa Gambar MENTIONED
Opposition leader and presidential candidate
"His challenge to the Aliyev dynasty highlights the political opposition in Azerbaijan and the struggle for democratic governance."

📰 What Happened

Ilham Aliyev has reportedly won the presidency of Azerbaijan with 80% of the votes, while opposition leader Isa Gambar claims election fraud and declares himself the winner. Protests erupted against the election results, leading to clashes with police.

  • Ilham Aliyev received approximately 80% of the votes in the presidential election.
  • Isa Gambar, the opposition candidate, accused Aliyev of election fraud and led protests.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: Iran is concerned about the stability of its neighbor, Azerbaijan, especially given the significant Azerbaijani population within Iran and the potential for regional unrest.
🌍 Regional: The election results could influence regional dynamics, particularly in the South Caucasus, where power balances are delicate.
🌐 International: Western nations may view the election and subsequent protests as indicators of democratic processes in post-Soviet states, impacting foreign policy and relations.

📚 Background

Azerbaijan has a history of authoritarian rule, with the Aliyev family maintaining control over the political landscape for decades. The current political climate reflects ongoing tensions between the government and opposition forces.

Azerbaijan's political history The role of oil in Azerbaijan's economy
📡 Source: STATE MEDIA
📊 Confidence: 70%
The information is based on official reports and may reflect the government's perspective, necessitating caution in interpreting the claims of election results.

Ilham Aliyev, the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan and son of the ailing President Heydar Aliyev, has apparently won the presidency of the country following today's elections, according to officials. Preliminary vote counts indicate that Ilham Aliyev has secured 80 percent of the votes, while opposition candidate Isa Gambar has managed to obtain only 10 percent. Nevertheless, Isa Gambar, the opposition leader, has declared himself the winner of the election. Today, while Mr. Gambar accused the son of Aliyev of stealing the election, hundreds of opposition supporters protested in front of the opposition party's office. Riot police clashed with the protesters to disperse the crowd, resulting in several injuries. Heydar Aliyev, who has led Azerbaijan for nearly 30 years, is hospitalized in the United States due to heart and kidney ailments and has handed over the leadership of the country to his son.

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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