Leyla Aliyeva
{{Short description|Daughter of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev}}
{{about|the daughter of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev|the television presenter|Leyla Aliyeva (presenter)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Leyla Aliyeva
| native_name = {{nobold|Leyla Əliyeva}}
| image = Leyla Aliyeva, 2015.jpg
| caption = Aliyeva in 2015
| office = Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation
| term_start = 2011
| president = Mehriban Aliyeva
| predecessor = Position established
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|7|3|df=y}}
| birth_place = Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
| death_date =
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| nationality = Azerbaijani
| other_names =
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| spouse = {{marriage|Emin Agalarov|2006|2015|reason=div}}
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| children = 3
| parents = Ilham Aliyev
Mehriban Aliyeva
| relatives = Heydar Aliyev (grandfather)
Zarifa Aliyeva (grandmother)
Arzu Aliyeva (sister)
Heydar Aliyev Jr. (brother)
| signature =
| website = http://www.leyla-aliyeva.az/en/
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}}
Leyla Ilham gizi Aliyeva ({{langx|az|Leyla İlham qızı Əliyeva}}, born 3 July 1984) is an Azerbaijani politician who is a member of Azerbaijan's ruling Aliyev family, as the daughter of the current president, Ilham Aliyev, and granddaughter of the former president, Heydar Aliyev.
Aliyeva and her family have substantial wealth stashed in elaborate networks of offshore companies.{{Cite web |title=Luxury London Properties Linked to Family of Azerbaijan's President Are Hidden Behind an Offshore Trust |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/investigation/luxury-london-properties-linked-to-family-of-azerbaijans-president-are-hidden-behind-an-offshore-trust |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241220194646/https://www.occrp.org/en/investigation/luxury-london-properties-linked-to-family-of-azerbaijans-president-are-hidden-behind-an-offshore-trust |archive-date=2024-12-20 |website=OCCRP |language=en-US}} She and her sister Arzu Aliyeva own Azerfon, one of the largest mobile operators in Azerbaijan through three Panamanian offshore companies.{{Cite news |last=Ismayilova |first=Khadija |date=2014-07-15 |title=TeliaSonera’s Behind-The-Scenes Connection To Azerbaijani President's Daughters |language=en |work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/teliasonera-azerbaijan-aliyev-corruption-investigation-occrp/25457907.html}} Offshore companies owned by the sisters were also awarded mining rights worth billions of dollars by the Azerbaijan government.{{Cite web |title=People of Azerbaijan Bail out Failed Aliyev Mining Empire - The Panama Papers |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/panamapapers/people-of-azerbaijan-bail-out-failed-aliyev-mining-empire/ |website=OCCRP |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Aliyevs’ Secret Mining Empire - The Panama Papers |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/panamapapers/aliyev-mining-empire/ |website=OCCRP |language=en}} They also own PASHA Holding, a conglomerate that has been embroiled in high-level corruption.{{Cite book |last=Altstadt |first=Audrey L. |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7312/alts70456 |title=Frustrated Democracy in Post-Soviet Azerbaijan |date=2017 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=978-0-231-70456-4 |pages=126 |doi=10.7312/alts70456}}
Early life
According to her personal website, Aliyeva was born in Moscow on 3 July 1985.{{cite web|url=https://leyla-aliyeva.az/post/1 |title=Leyla Əliyevanın şəxsi veb-saytı |publisher=Leyla-aliyeva.az |date= |accessdate=2018-08-03}} From 2006 to 2008, Aliyeva pursued a master's degree at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO-MSIIR; also the alma mater of her father).
Career
She is a member of the ruling Aliyev family in Azerbaijan. She has been embroiled in scandals involving the family's wealth, as she and her family members has wealth stashed in elaborate networks of offshore companies.{{Cite web |title=How Family that Runs Azerbaijan Built an Empire of Hidden Wealth - ICIJ |date=4 April 2016 |url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/panama-papers/20160404-azerbaijan-hidden-wealth/ |access-date=2021-07-11 |language=en-US}} The documents showed that Leyla and her sister Arzu controlled two previously hidden British Virgin Islands-incorporated firms — Kingsview Developments Limited and Exaltation Limited.{{Cite web |date=2018-05-16 |title=UK law firm accused of failings over Azerbaijan leader's daughters' offshore assets |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/16/uk-law-firm-accused-of-failings-over-azerbaijan-leaders-daughters-offshore-assets |access-date=2021-07-11 |website=the Guardian |language=en}} Documents have also shown her to be the owner of offshore companies LaBelleza Holdings Limited and Harvard Management Limited.{{Cite news |title=Offshore Companies Link Corporate Mogul, Azerbaijan's President |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/azerbaijan-aliyev-family-offshore-businesses/24947900.html |access-date=2021-07-11 |newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=4 April 2013 |language=en |last1=Candea |first1=Stefan }}
In 2005, Ilham Aliyev's regime granted license for a new mobile operator, Azerfon, to enter the Azerbaijani market. In 2011, investigative reporting revealed that Leyla Aliyeva and her sister Arzu owned 72% of the operator through three Panamanian offshore companies.
In 2006, Ilham Aliyev awarded mining rights for six gold fields worth billions of dollars to a four-company consortium owned by his daughters through offshore companies. The contract did not follow normal bidding procedures, the identity of the consortium owners was unknown, and the consortium had no history of mining. Over the course of several years, the consortium failed to make profits, as the secretive ownership structure inhibited the companies' ability to sell on the world market. The consortium unsuccessfully sought to sell itself to a private buyer. In 2016, their father Ilham Aliyev ordered the state-owned company Azergold (formed in 2015) to purchase the four-company consortium. As part of the secret deal, the daughter would receive 70% of all future mining profits while the state would just receive the remaining 30%.
Aliyeva is vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation,{{Cite web |title=News |url=http://www.heydar-aliyev-foundation.org/jsp/ShowNewsPage.jsp |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120803131649/http://www.heydar-aliyev-foundation.org/jsp/ShowNewsPage.jsp?id=53&partition=1&rubDate=null&cdate=2012-03-27&lang=en |archive-date=2012-08-03 |access-date=2012-04-08}} a charity run by the Aliyev ruling family in Azerbaijan.{{cite web |date=2011-10-19 |title=Azerbaijan cultural center opens in Moscow (PHOTO) - Trend.Az |url=http://en.trend.az/news/society/1946956.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405123514/http://en.trend.az/news/society/1946956.html |archive-date=2012-04-05 |accessdate=2014-03-24 |publisher=En.trend.az}}{{cite web |date= |title=Xalq Qəzeti |url=http://xalqqazeti.com/en/social/heydar-aliyev-foundation-s-russian-representation-conducts-charity-action-in-moscow-and-13-regions-of-russia |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120420192840/http://xalqqazeti.com/en/social/heydar-aliyev-foundation-s-russian-representation-conducts-charity-action-in-moscow-and-13-regions-of-russia |archive-date=2012-04-20 |accessdate=2014-03-24 |publisher=Xalqqazeti.com}} Leyla and her sister own a number of banks in Azerbaijan. She is editor-in-chief of the style magazine Baku, launched in 2011.{{cite web |last=Luft |first=Oliver |date=2011-06-29 |title=Condé Nast to publish international edition of Baku magazine - Media news |url=http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/1077517/CondE-Nast-publish-international-edition-Baku-magazine/ |accessdate=2014-03-24 |publisher=Media Week<}}File:LeylaAly.jpg
Aliyeva has been involved in efforts to promote Azerbaijan in Russia.{{cite web|url=http://eurodialogue.org/Leila-Aliyeva-Azerbaijan-could-become-a-bridge-between-civilizations |title=Leila Aliyeva: Azerbaijan could become a bridge between civilizations | European Dialogue |website=Eurodialogue.org |date=2010-06-16 |accessdate=2016-04-09}}{{cite web|last=Rzayeva|first=Camilla|date=2008-05-08|title=Leyla Aliyeva: "We must stick together and cooperate" - Diaspora - Visions of Azerbaijan Magazine|url=http://www.visions.az/diaspora,27/|website=Visions.az|accessdate=2016-04-09}}{{Cite web |title=Visions of Azerbaijan Magazine ::: Leyla Aliyeva: "We must stick together and cooperate" |url=http://visions.az/en/news/27/ddc23e17/ |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=Visions of Azerbaijan Magazine |language=en}} The Azerbaijan government has given her multiple awards.{{cite web|date=|title=Azərbaycan Prezidentinin Rəsmi internet səhifəsi - SƏNƏDLƏR » Sərəncamlar Azərbaycan diasporunun inkişafındakı xidmətlərinə görə bir qrup şəxsin təltif edilməsi haqqında Azərbaycan Respublikası Prezidentinin Sərəncamı|url=http://www.president.az/articles/2681|website=President.az|accessdate=2016-04-09}}{{Cite web |title=Heydar Aliyev Foundation VP Leyla Aliyeva awarded the medal "For Merits Before the Astrakhan Oblast" - UPDATE - PHOTOS |url=http://www.today.az/news/politics/112328.html |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=www.today.az}} She has also been given multiple awards by Russian institutions.{{Cite web|title=Leyla Aliyeva awarded with high order of Russian Orthodox Church|url=http://theorthodoxchurch.info/blog/news/leyla-aliyeva-awarded-with-high-order-of-russian-orthodox-church/|access-date=12 July 2017}}{{Cite web |date=2016-05-20 |title=Leyla Aliyeva receives diploma of Honorary Professor of Moscow State University (PHOTO) |url=https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/society/2536254.html |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=Trend.Az |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin presents the "Pushkin" Medal to Leyla Aliyeva |url=https://wn.com/president_of_the_russian_federation_vladimir_putin_presents_the_%E2%80%9Cpushkin%E2%80%9D_medal_to_leyla_aliyeva |access-date=12 July 2017}}{{Cite web |title=Vice President of Foundation |url=http://heydar-aliyev-foundation.org/en/content/index/143/ |access-date=17 July 2017}}
She was the executive producer of the 2016 film Ali and Nino, based on the novel of the same name by an Azerbaijani writer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.calvertjournal.com/news/show/5133/ali-and-nino-film-to-premier-at-sundance|title=Ali and Nino film to premier at Sundance|access-date=12 July 2017}}
Personal life
File:Vladimir Putin and Leyla Aliyeva.jpg in 2015]]
From 2006 to 2015, Aliyeva was married to Emin Agalarov, the son of Russian billionaire Aras Agalarov.{{Cite web |title=BBCAzeri.com {{!}} Ön səhifə {{!}} "Washington Post" : "Dubay malikanələri danışa bilsəydilər"... |url=http://www.bbc.com/azeri/news/story/2010/03/100306_dubay.shtml |access-date=2017-04-14 |website=www.bbc.com |language=az}}{{cite web |date=30 May 2015 |title=Дочь президента Азербайджана сообщила о своем разводе через Instagram |url=http://ria.ru/world/20150530/1067366218.html |accessdate=30 May 2015 |publisher=RIA Novosti |language=Russian}} Aliyeva is the mother of three children: Ali, Mikail and Amina.{{cite web |date= |title=Leyla Aliyeva adopts girl from orphanage |url=http://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/Leyla-Aliyeva-adopts-girl-from-orphanage.html |accessdate=2016-04-09 |publisher=Vestnik Kavkaza}}
In 2010, The Washington Post reported that Leyla along with her sister Arzu and brother Heydar own real estate in Dubai that is worth about $75 million.{{cite news|last=Higgins|first=Andrew|date=March 5, 2010|title=Pricey real estate deals in Dubai raise questions about Azerbaijan's president|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/04/AR2010030405390.html|accessdate=September 28, 2012}} In 2006, she obtained a property in Mayendorf Gardens, a gated community in Moscow.{{Cite web |date=2015 |title=Azerbaijan: First Family’s Russian Dacha - Corruptistan |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/corruptistan/azerbaijan/2015/08/05/azerbaijan-first-familys-opulent-russian-dacha.en.html |website=OCCRP |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{commons category|Leyla Aliyeva}}
{{Ilham Aliyev}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aliyeva, Leyla}}
Category:Azerbaijani journalists
Category:Azerbaijani women journalists
Category:Recipients of the Tereggi Medal
Category:Recipients of the Medal of Pushkin
Category:Children of presidents