As we reported, Adnan Ahmadzade, former deputy head of SOCAR's Investment Department, has been arrested in Baku. In the initial stage of the preliminary investigation conducted by the State Security Service (DTX), A. Ahmadzade is accused of sabotage against economic security and, in particular, large-scale embezzlement.
According to information obtained by “Qafqazinfo”, these acts fall under the category of “especially grave crimes” in the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The charge of “especially large-scale embezzlement” alone carries a sentence of 10 to 14 years of imprisonment. Abuse of official powers and sabotage against economic security could further stiffen this penalty. It is also not excluded that additional episodes may emerge during the investigation.
As the matter touches upon the state's legally protected interests, a firm stance is being demonstrated against such incidents. As previously noted, alongside this arrest, the government intends to strengthen the fight against corruption and individual abuses that could weaken Baku's international standing.
The incident is also presented as part of a cleanup and transparency campaign being conducted in Azerbaijan's energy sector.
It appears that Adnan Ahmadzade is currently being interrogated in the DTX's pre-trial detention facility. The investigative body will carefully analyze the information he provides regarding his financial transactions, the individuals he collaborated with, and the mechanism of the incident.
Ahmadzade's testimonies and the evidence he presents, given that he owns extensive businesses both in Azerbaijan and abroad, will significantly impact the full disclosure of all details of the crime and a comprehensive investigation of the case.
Considering the public importance of the matter, we are closely monitoring the course of the investigation.
It should be recalled that the root of this incident is presumed to be the discovery of chloride, a harmful substance, in several batches of crude oil exported from Azerbaijan in July. After the harmful substance was detected, the BTC pipeline also halted the transportation of Kazakh oil. Transportation was restored last week.
A few weeks after the incident, the Romanian press, citing sources in the country's law enforcement agencies, reported that the harmful substance was deliberately added to Azerbaijani oil by Russia. The Russian side has not made any statement regarding this information.
According to the world press, the goal was both to inflict significant material damage on Azerbaijan and to harm its relations with partner countries.