Ilham Aliyev is the President of Azerbaijan, having taken office in 2003 after succeeding his father, Heydar Aliyev. He was born on April 24, 1961, in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. Aliyev has a background in economics and international relations, having studied in both Azerbaijan and the United States. Under his leadership, Azerbaijan has experienced economic growth, largely due to its oil and gas resources. Aliyev's government has focused on modernizing the country's infrastructure and improving its international relations, particularly with neighboring countries and Turkey. However, his administration has faced criticism for its human rights record and lack of political freedoms.