Aliyev Family: The Family That Rules Azerbaijan

BAKU - NOVEMBER 4: 4th President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev seen during a press meeting held on November 4, 2006 at the Presidential Palace in Baku, Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is one of the very few so-called democratic countries, where the political power stays within one family and it's passed over from one generation to the next. Everything started with Haydar Aliyev (1923?2003) who dominated in Azerbaijan politics for over then 30 years. He started climbing the political ladder after joining the KGB in 1944. Soon after, he became the KGB commander. In 1969 Leonid Brezniev appointed him the head of the Azerbaijan Communists Party. In 1982 he was promoted by Juri Andropov and became a vice Prime Minister of Soviet Union, the first Muslim to achieve such a position in Soviet politics. Finally he was forced to resign in 1987 by Michail Gorbachov. He made his big come back in politics in Azerbaijan were he won twice presidential election (none of the two elections was recognised as free or independent). Aliyev's worsening health conditions forced him in 2003 to pass over all his political strength to his own son Ilham, who became Azerbaijan Prime Minister, the first to consequently win presidential election. Ilham Aliyev (born 1961) graduated in history at National Moscow University of International Relations, where later he got his Ph.D. At the beginning of 1990's he was doing business in Moscow and Istanbul but was more known for his extravagance, gambling and had never shown an interest in politics. In May 1994, his father arranged for his son to be appointed vice-president of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), the following year he was elected into Parliament. Ilham Aliyev is married and has got 3 children. His wife is a member of Azerbaijan Parliament and the President of Hajdar Aliyev Charity. (Photo by Laski Diffusion - Wojtek Laski/Getty Images)