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Mehriban Aliyeva

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Mehriban Aliyeva: First Vice President of Azerbaijan

Mehriban Aliyeva (née Pashayeva) stands as a significant figure in Azerbaijani politics, holding the esteemed position of First Vice President of Azerbaijan since February 21, 2017. She also concurrently serves as the First Lady of Azerbaijan, a role she has occupied since her husband, Ilham Aliyev, ascended to the presidency. Aliyeva's influence extends beyond her official titles; she is also the Deputy Leader of the New Azerbaijan Party and the President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. Her political journey has been marked by rapid ascent, culminating in the creation of the First Vice President position, which was then filled by her, a move that has drawn considerable international scrutiny.

Incumbency and Early Role

Appointed as First Vice President of Azerbaijan on February 21, 2017, Mehriban Aliyeva assumed a role that was, until that point, unprecedented in the nation's political structure. This position was established following a constitutional referendum in 2016, a process initiated by her husband, then-President Ilham Aliyev. The referendum's implications were far-reaching, not only creating the First Vice Presidency but also lowering the age requirement for the presidency. This specific alteration fueled speculation that it was designed to pave the way for the eventual succession of the Aliyevs' son, Heydar Aliyev Jr., who was then just 19 years old. Critics at the time widely interpreted these constitutional changes as a strategic maneuver to solidify the Aliyev family's dynastic grip on power in Azerbaijan.

Prior to her appointment as First Vice President, Aliyeva had already been actively involved in public life. She assumed the role of First Lady of Azerbaijan on October 31, 2003, a position she has maintained throughout her husband's tenure as President. This period saw her cultivate a public image through various charitable and cultural initiatives, often under the umbrella of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

Personal Background and Family Ties

Mehriban Pashayeva was born in Baku on August 26, 1964. Her family background is noteworthy, often described in leaked US Embassy cables as "the single most powerful family in Azerbaijan." This influential lineage includes her maternal grandfather, Mir Jalal Pashayev, an Iranian Azerbaijani writer who hailed from Iran. Her uncle, Hafiz Pashayev, played a pivotal role as Azerbaijan's inaugural Ambassador to the United States, a testament to the family's diplomatic reach. Her father, Arif Pashayev, has served as the Rector of the National Aviation Academy in Baku, while her mother, Aida Imanguliyeva (1939–1992), was a distinguished philologist and Arabist, and the daughter of the journalist and educator Nasir Imanguliyev.

In 1983, Mehriban Pashayeva married Ilham Aliyev. Their union has produced three children: two daughters, Leyla (born July 3, 1984) and Arzu (born January 23, 1989), and a son, Heydar (born August 2, 1997). Leyla Aliyeva has been involved in the publishing world as the editor of Baku magazine, a publication associated with the Azerbaijani businessman Aras Agalarov. Leyla was previously married to Agalarov's son, Emin Agalarov.

Education and Early Professional Life

Aliyeva completed her secondary education at School No. 23 in 1982. She then pursued higher education at the Azerbaijan Medical University, focusing on the Preventive-Treatment Faculty, where she reportedly excelled. Her academic journey continued at the prestigious Sechenov Moscow Medical Academy, from which she graduated in 1988. Between 1988 and 1992, she worked at the State Research Institute of Eye Diseases in Moscow, an institution under the direction of Dr. Mikhail Krasnov, who was affiliated with the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. In 2005, Aliyeva earned her PhD after defending a dissertation titled "Euthanasia and humanism issues in medicine." Contemporary reports from The Times in 2005 acknowledged her as a "qualified physician" and a "former eye doctor."

Political and Philanthropic Career

Mehriban Aliyeva's public service began in earnest with the establishment of the Azerbaijani Culture Friends Foundation in 1995. This was followed in 1996 by the founding of "Azerbaijan - Heritage," a multilingual magazine (published in Azerbaijani, English, and Russian) dedicated to promoting Azerbaijani culture.

A significant milestone in her career was the establishment of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation on May 10, 2004. This foundation has become a central pillar of her philanthropic and public relations efforts, focusing on disseminating and celebrating the political ideology of the late President Heydar Aliyev. The foundation's activities are extensive, reportedly funding more schools than Azerbaijan's Ministry of Education, more hospitals than the Ministry of Health, and a greater number of cultural events than the Ministry of Culture. Beyond Azerbaijan's borders, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation has supported significant restoration projects at internationally renowned institutions such as the Louvre Museum, the Palace of Versailles, and Strasbourg Cathedral.

Aliyeva's international standing is further cemented by her appointments as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and a Goodwill Ambassador for ISESCO. Her involvement in sports administration includes a membership in the Executive Committee of the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan, a position she held from December 28, 2004.

In the political arena, Aliyeva joined the Political Board of the New Azerbaijan Party in 2004, a party led by her husband. Her influence within the party grew, culminating in her appointment as its deputy chairperson in June 2013. She also played a key role in organizing the 1st European Games held in Baku, serving as the chairperson of the event's Organizing Committee.

Parliamentary Service

Mehriban Aliyeva entered the National Assembly of Azerbaijan following the widely criticized 2005 parliamentary elections. She represented the Azizbeyov Second Constituency №14 under the banner of the New Azerbaijan Party, securing a reported 92.12% of the vote. Her decision to run for parliament marked a departure from tradition, as she had actively campaigned for her husband during his presidential bid in 2003. At the time, The Sunday Times characterized her as already wielding "considerable influence," with the Heydar Aliyev Foundation serving as "a powerful and wealthy institution set up to safeguard the late president’s legacy and support a number of educational and charitable projects." She was subsequently re-elected from the Khazar Constituency №14 in both the 2010 and 2015 parliamentary elections, garnering 94.49% and 96.7% of the votes respectively.

During her tenure as a Member of Parliament, Aliyeva demonstrated a commitment to legislative reform concerning amnesty. She repeatedly appealed to the Milli Majlis (Parliament) to adopt amnesty acts, particularly around May 28, Republic Day. These appeals resulted in the release of over 30,000 prisoners across various sentences in the years 2007, 2009, 2013, and 2016.

First Vice President of Azerbaijan

The appointment of Mehriban Aliyeva as First Vice President on February 21, 2017, by her husband, President Ilham Aliyev, was a pivotal moment in Azerbaijan's political landscape. This position, created by the 2016 constitutional referendum, effectively placed her second in command, with the constitutional provision that she would assume the presidency should her husband step down. This move was met with significant international criticism, with organizations like Freedom House viewing it as a consolidation of power within the ruling family and a further entrenchment of dynastic rule.

Criticism and Controversies

The public image cultivated by Mehriban Aliyeva and the activities of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation have not been without controversy. While the foundation is credited with supporting numerous cultural projects both domestically and internationally, critics, including Freedom House, have pointed to its alleged role in "burnishing the regime’s international image and advancing Baku’s official position on the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh". Furthermore, the foundation has faced accusations of being a conduit for corruption.

Aliyeva's public statements on political tolerance have been contrasted with the reality of political repression in Azerbaijan. She has denied claims of mass political imprisonment, yet her appointment as First Vice President coincided with an increase in the detention of opposition activists, a move perceived by many as an effort to preemptively silence dissent. Reports from organizations like Human Rights Watch have detailed systemic issues within Azerbaijan, including allegations of torture, arbitrary arrests, and the systematic harassment of journalists and non-governmental organizations. The concentration of power within the Aliyev family and its perceived lack of accountability remain central concerns regarding the human rights situation in Azerbaijan.

Leaked diplomatic cables from 2008 also alluded to Aliyeva having undergone extensive cosmetic surgery, to the point where US officials found it difficult to distinguish her from her daughters. The cables also noted that she "has problems showing a full range of facial expressions, following substantial cosmetic surgery, [done] presumably overseas" and "wears dresses that would be considered provocative even in the Western world."

Awards and Honours

Mehriban Aliyeva has received a considerable number of awards and honours, both within Azerbaijan and internationally. These recognitions span various fields, from public service and philanthropy to cultural and humanitarian endeavors.

National Honours and Medals

  • The Public Figure of 2004 – Azerbaijan
  • Heydar Aliyev Order – Azerbaijan
  • The Person of 2005 – Azerbaijan
  • Woman of Year (2005) – Azerbaijan
  • The Person of 2015 – Azerbaijan
  • Cossack Glory – Azerbaijan
  • Academician Mikayil Huseynov Medal (2017) – Azerbaijan
  • Uzeir Hajibeyli honorary medal – Azerbaijan

Foreign Honours

International Organizations

Honorary Degrees

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