Today is the birthday of Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. He was born on December 24, 1961, in Baku.
President Ilham Aliyev is celebrating his birthday this year as well within the framework of an official visit to Karabakh. Thus, this is the fourth birthday President Ilham Aliyev has celebrated in Karabakh as head of state.
Modern.az has investigated where and how Ilham Aliyev has celebrated his birthdays since he was elected President.
2003 was Ilham Aliyev's first year as President. That year, the President turned 42.
On December 24, 2005, President Ilham Aliyev visited the area where an AN-140 aircraft belonging to the "Azerbaijan Airlines" State Concern, operating the Baku-Aktau (Kazakhstan) flight, crashed.
On December 24, 2007, the President participated in the opening of a 75-kilometer section of the 85-kilometer Hajigabul-Kurdamir highway, part of the Baku-Alat-Gazakh main highway. On the same day, the President also visited Ali Bayramli city. He participated in the opening of the Ali Bayramli (now Shirvan) Medical-Diagnostic Center.
On President Ilham Aliyev's birthday in 2008, the "Sangachal" power plant, built in the Garadagh district of Baku, was commissioned. The President also participated in the opening ceremony on that day.
On December 24, 2009, the President and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva participated in the opening of a residential building constructed in Khirdalan for World War II veterans, Karabakh war invalids, and martyrs' families, as well as in the ceremony of presenting passenger cars to war veterans and invalids. On the same day, they participated in the opening of the new administrative building of the Absheron District Executive Power in Khirdalan and familiarized themselves with the landscaping work carried out in the area where the former "Bina" shopping center was located in Surakhani district.
In 2010, President Ilham Aliyev celebrated his birthday together with Karabakh war invalids and martyrs' families. On that day, the President and his wife familiarized themselves with residential buildings constructed for Karabakh war invalids and martyrs' families in Zabrat and Pirallahi settlements, and in the Yeni Yasamal massiv, and presented them with keys. Ilham Aliyev and Mehriban Aliyeva also participated in the opening of the Academic Topchubashov Scientific Surgery Center after major renovation and reconstruction. Later, President Ilham Aliyev and his wife participated in the process of releasing the first herd of gazelles into the territory of the Gobustan-Jangichay State Nature Reserve.
On December 24, 2011, President Ilham Aliyev was on the frontline with his family on his 50th birthday. In his speech there, the head of state stated that he is not in favor of specially celebrating birthdays. He also met with internally displaced persons during his visit to the Karabakh region. He listened to their problems. The President also noted during the meeting with internally displaced persons that he wished to celebrate his birthdays in Shusha.
On December 24, 2012, President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva participated in the opening ceremony of a 12-story, 96-apartment residential building constructed in Sumgayit for Karabakh war invalids and martyrs' families. On that day, in addition to the new apartments, the head of state also presented 211 "Naz Lifan" brand cars, produced by the Nakhchivan Automobile Plant, to war invalids.
On December 24, 2013, President Ilham Aliyev participated in the post-reconstruction opening of the Vocational Rehabilitation Center for Young People with Limited Health Capabilities in the Yeni Ramana settlement of Baku. Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva, after familiarizing themselves with the center, met with young people with limited health capabilities and inquired about their concerns.
In 2014, President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva familiarized themselves with the final completion works carried out at the Heydar Mosque under construction in the Binagadi district of the capital, as well as with the completed office building of "Baku White City" and the progress of other works carried out within the "Baku White City" project.
In 2015, with the participation of Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva, a residential building constructed for visually impaired persons in the Narimanov district of the capital was commissioned.
On December 24, 2016, the President and his wife participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the first nine-story building and a school building to be constructed in the Yasamal Residential Complex, the first project of the State Housing Construction Agency. Later, the President and his wife participated in the presentation of the "Beyler" Mosque in Icherisheher after restoration and conservation works, and in the opening of the Marionette Theatre.
In 2017, on his birthday, the President participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the first seven-story building to be constructed in the Hovsan Residential Complex, the second project of the State Housing Construction Agency (MIDA). The head of state and the First Lady also participated in the opening of Khagani Rustamov Street in "Baku White City", the roundabout and four-exit pedestrian underpass located on this street, and the presentation ceremony of the newly established park and the completed neighborhoods.
On December 24, 2018, a new residential complex built for 1000 internally displaced families was commissioned in the Absheron district. On that day, President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva participated in the ceremony. The President and his wife also participated in the opening of the 110-kilovolt "Agh Sheher-2" and "Bakikhanov" substations, First Fountains Street in "Baku White City", as well as the groundbreaking ceremony for the "Agh Sheher" pedestrian bridge and Zaman Square, and familiarized themselves with the completed Fountains Square Park. Later, Ilham Aliyev received Rasim Ljajić, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia and Minister of Trade, Tourism, and Telecommunications.
In 2019, the President received a delegation led by Maxim Oreshkin, Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation and Co-Chairman of the Russian-Azerbaijani Intergovernmental Economic Commission. Later, the President attended the opening of DOST Center No. 2, located in the Khazar district, under the Sustainable and Operative Social Security Agency, which is subordinate to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population. Ilham Aliyev, who also participated in the ceremony of presenting apartments in a residential building constructed for martyrs' families and Karabakh war invalids in the Nizami district of Baku, as well as cars to Karabakh war invalids and persons equated to them, presented apartment and car keys to martyrs' families and Karabakh war invalids on his birthday. Later, the President, the First Lady, and their daughter Leyla Aliyeva participated in the opening of Central Boulevard Street in Baku White City, familiarized themselves with the largely completed Park Quarter, and initiated the landscaping of the park there.
In 2020, the President celebrated his birthday in Karabakh for the first time. On that day, Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva visited the liberated Gubadli and Zangilan districts.
Driving the car himself on the way to Gubadli, President Ilham Aliyev said:
"We are in the Jabrayil district. We are in the liberated lands. On the right side are our villages destroyed by Armenians. We are going to Gubadli district." These frames were later shared by the First Lady on her social media account.
In 2021, Ilham Aliyev also celebrated his birthday in Karabakh. On that day, the President, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, and their son Heydar Aliyev visited the Hadrut settlement of Khojavand district and participated in the opening of a military unit there. Ilham Aliyev then arrived in Shusha city after visiting Hadrut settlement with the Vice President and family members.
On December 24, 2022, the President familiarized himself with the conditions created in the administrative building of the Western Azerbaijan Community and met with a group of intellectuals from Western Azerbaijan.
In 2023, Ilham Aliyev celebrated his birthday in Aghdam. On that day, President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva familiarized themselves with the repair and restoration works carried out at the "Imarat" Complex, one of the historical and architectural monuments damaged during the occupation, which was once the palace of Panahali Khan, the founder of the Karabakh Khanate.
The President celebrated his birthday with athletes last year. On December 24, 2024, Ilham Aliyev delivered a speech at a ceremony dedicated to sports results. Speaking about Azerbaijan's sports achievements, the President concluded by participating in the awarding ceremony for individuals and sports specialists who have contributed to the development of sports in Azerbaijan.
It is also observed that outside of official events and meetings, President Ilham Aliyev celebrates his birthdays with family members, mostly in a private and simple setting. These moments have occasionally been reflected in social media posts by Leyla Aliyeva, as well as other family members of the President.
