Azerbaijan Aliyev Empire

In Azerbaijan, two sisters dominate the business world. Leyla and Arzu Aliyeva, the daughters of President Ilham Aliyev, have secretly amassed a sprawling empire worth more than $13 billion. But their meteoric rise in fortunes has raised more than a few questions—especially as their father has ruled the country with an iron fist for two decades.

The Sentry spent more than a year identifying the individuals and entities linked to the sisters, compiling more than a thousand corporate filings, court records, real estate records, and leaked information. The result—Aliyev Empire—visualizes the sisters’ complex network of overseas companies and business associates for the first time.