Leyla Aliyeva

Leyla Aliyeva (born 3 July 1985) (not to be confused with Leila Alieva the political analyst), is an Azerbaijani national, the daughter of the the current (2009) president Ilham Aliyev.

Family connections

Aliyeva is the daughter of the Azeri president Ilham Aliyev and is the spouse of Emil Aghalarov and daughter in law of the ‘famous Russian businessman, president of Crocus Grup Aras Agalarov’(also spelled Araz Aghalarov)

Justice for Khojaly

Aliyeva is the main force behins the Justice For Khojaly campaign. Announcements about the campaign are sent out by the 'State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan', suggesting an amount of state support for the campaign. for example in June 2009 a book published on the website of Justice for Khojaly received the following write-up:

On the Russia Day, Justice for Khojaly Campaign posted on its website an online version of the Bloody pool of Karabakh book by Prof. Yuri Pompeyev, well-known Russian writer and journalist.

The book is based on written materials and interviews with politicians, who played a key role in unleashing the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The book reveals irresponsible and criminal policy of the Soviet leadership, which connived at the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan.

Prof. Pompeyev presented the history of the Karabakh conflict from the late eighties to the Russian public. Bloody pool of Karabakh book is the first of the trilogy, which also includes books titled Khojaly, bloody events and Painful days.

The Justice for Khojaly campaign was launched by Leyla Aliyeva, Head of the Azerbaijan Youth Organization of Russia and OIC Youth Forum coordinator for cross-cultural dialogue. The main purpose of the international awareness campaign "Justice for Khojaly-Freedom for Karabakh" is to contribute to restoration of historic justice and recognition of Khojaly genocide by the world community.

In July 2009 further support for the campaign was announced:

During the opening ceremony of the ISESCO 10th General Conference, OIC Youth Forum and ISESCO signed an additional protocol to memorandum on cooperation. The protocol envisages the support for the Justice for Khojaly campaign started by OIC Youth Forum coordinator for cross-cultural dialogue Leyla Aliyeva.

The document signed by ISESCO Director General Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri and Secretary General of OIC Youth Forum Elshad Iskandarov is the first in the history of ISESCO to throw support behind humanitarian tragedy campaign.

According to Elshad Iskandarov, the document provided for a plan of actions in the European and OIC member countries. The sides agreed to prepare a program on inclusion of information on Khojaly tragedy into the textbooks in OIC member countries. Under the document, ISESCO assumed obligation to have information on the tragedy included into the textbooks in its member countries in 2009-2010.

Later in July 2009 allegations about Armenian government censorship were issued:

The Armenia government has blocked access to the official site of the Justice for Khojaly campaign (www.justiceforkhojaly.org). One of Facebook users in Yerevan claims it is impossible to connect to this website.

Justice for Khojaly campaign reports problems Armenian young people face in accessing website are an evidence of Armenia governments violating international obligations concerning human rights and freedom of information. It is rumored in Armenia that the site was blocked by Azerbaijan. However, the website was created by campaign activists in USA. It means it is impossible technically to block the site from Azerbaijan. Since February this year, 15,000 people have visited the site. Justice for Khojaly campaign urged rights groups and its supporters to protest to Armenia government and draw attention of international organizations. The International Awareness Campaign is initiated on May 8, 2008 by Mrs. Leyla Aliyeva, General Coordinator of Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation under the motto of Justice for Khojaly, Freedom for Garabagh The Campaign is aimed at raising international civil awareness through demonstration of photos and images of suffered people in the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict and Khojaly massacre. Thousands of Azerbaijani civilians were slain by the Armenian forces in the Khojaly district with the support of Russian troops on February 25-26, 1992. 613 people were brutally killed, including 106 women, 63 children and 70 elderly. 1,275 were taken captives, while 487 became handicapped and 150 went missing.

Affiliations

Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation, Co-ordinator | Justice for Khojaly, initiator of 'International Awareness Campaign' |

Publications, Contact, Resources and Notes

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