The high importance of the contest within Azerbaijan became evident and world news in 2013 when the countries president himself Ilham Aliyev launched an inquiry into why his country did not award Russia any points in the Eurovision 2013 final.
Famous MGIMO alumni include President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Russia’s Ministers of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov, Andrei Kozyrev, OSCE Secretary General and foreign minister of Slovakia Ján Kubiš, Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova, and CEO of Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation, Felix Vulis, Moldovan Prime minister, Iurie Leanca.
He was Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan under Aliyev, and later under his son, Ilham from October 1999 until April 2004 when he was replaced by the incumbent Elmar Mammadyarov.
Ilham Aliyev | Heydar Aliyev | Habil Aliyev | Heydar Aliyev International Airport | Rakhat Aliyev | Rafig Aliyev | Ilham al-Madfai | Ashraf Aliyev |
Emin is married to Leyla Aliyeva, the daughter of the current President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev; she edits the London-based Baku magazine, published by Crocus International.
He was a representative of the presidential candidate Heydar Aliyev in 2003 and Representative of the presidential candidate Ilham Aliyev at the pre-electoral period in 2008.
Ownership interests in the company are held by the President and First Lady of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev and Mehriban Aliyeva.
Zarifa Aliyeva — ophthalmologist, academician of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, professor; daughter of the People's Commissar of Health of Azerbaijan SSR, First Secretary of the Dagestan Regional Committee of the Communist Party, Aziz Aliyev, wife of the President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev and the mother of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.
The MOU was signed by the President of SOCAR, Rovnag Abdullayev and Chief Executive of Exploration and Production of BP, Andy Inglis in the presence of President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev and former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Gordon Brown.
One of Silk Way Bank's owners is Arzu Aliyeva, the daughter of President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva.
They have since placed 2nd in the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest, with the song "Hold Me" Westernised Azerbaijani pop includes Emin Agalarov, the son in law of president Ilham Aliyev.