Adnan Ahmadzada, former deputy head of SOCAR's Investment Department, has been arrested in Azerbaijan.
Musavat.com reported this, citing fttc.com.ua.
It is reported that several sources familiar with the matter have confirmed the information.
According to reports, Ahmadzada's arrest is linked to accusations of grossly violating the country's laws by mixing “Azeri Light” brand crude oil with other crude oil products. This act is considered a serious blow to the reliability and market transparency of Azerbaijan's oil industry.
According to sources, alongside this arrest, the government intends to strengthen its fight against corruption and individual abuses that could weaken Baku's international standing. The incident is also presented as part of an ongoing cleanup and transparency campaign in Azerbaijan's energy sector.
It should be noted that Adnan Ahmadzada worked in senior positions at SOCAR for many years and was known for his extensive business network both domestically and abroad. His arrest has caused a stir in Azerbaijan's energy sector.
It is worth recalling that in July, it was revealed that chloride, a harmful substance, was detected in several batches of crude oil exported from Azerbaijan.
Although it was claimed that oil exports from Ceyhan port were temporarily suspended due to the harmful substance found in oil batches reaching Romania and Italy, BP-Azerbaijan, the operator of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, denied the news. From the company's statement, it became clear that the harmful substance was detected in several storage tanks at Ceyhan port. The oil in those tanks was re-purified, and at the same time, exports continued through other tanks.
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 aim was both to inflict significant material damage on Azerbaijan and to harm its relations with partner countries.
It should be noted that after the harmful substance was detected, the BTC pipeline also suspended the transportation of Kazakh oil. Transportation resumed last week.
The allegations put forward regarding A. Ahmadzada's arrest create the possibility that the arrest is precisely related to this incident.
It should be noted that A. Ahmadzada had caused widespread resonance in 2024 by bringing world-famous footballers Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho to Azerbaijan.