The Chief Department for Combating Corruption under the Prosecutor General is continuing its preliminary investigation into criminal cases initiated at the State Customs Committee concerning illegal activities of officials, military personnel, and other members of a criminal group involved in smuggling and abuse of power.
This was reported by the press service of the Prosecutor General's Office.
It was stated that as a result of investigative measures in the criminal case concerning the illegal actions of employees of the Baku Hovsan International Trade Sea Port Customs Post of the Main Customs Department for Maritime Transport and Energy Resources of the State Customs Committee, the Open Joint Stock Company "Baku Hovsan International Trade Sea Port," and other members of a criminal group, Ruslan Eyyubov, the de facto head of "Baku Hovsan International Trade Sea Port" JSC, Rəşad Daşdəmirov, the JSC's General Director, Zaur Haşımov, Head of Port Services, Fərrux Haqverdiyev, a brigadier at the port, Fərid Usubov, Head of the Baku Hovsan Trade Sea Port Customs Post of the Main Customs Department for Maritime Transport and Energy Resources of the State Customs Committee, customs post inspectors Heydər Eyvazlı, Tamerlan Axundzadə, and Tahir Tahiri, as well as the senior operational investigator of the Operations Department of the Operational Investigation Department of the aforementioned Main Customs Department, Ənvər Tağıyev, and Elçin Rüstəmov, Fariz Məhərrəmov, Firuz Əliyev, Amil Cəbrayılov, Ələsgər İsmayılov, Rövşən Tarverdiyev, who carried out the transportation and storage of tobacco products by vehicles, as well as others whose identities are being investigated, have been reasonably suspected of forming an organized group and smuggling tobacco products subject to excise stamping, valued at over 5.4 million manats, without such stamps via ship from the United Arab Emirates and the Islamic Republic of Iran into the country through the mentioned port.
Based on the collected preliminary evidence, these individuals have been charged as accused persons under the relevant articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan:
- 206.4 (smuggling in large quantities by an organized group),
- 213-1.2.1, 213-1.2.2, 213-1.2.3 (storage of goods subject to excise stamping in large quantities without such stamping, for the purpose of sale, by a group of persons who had previously conspired), and
- 308.2 (abuse of power leading to grave consequences).
Regarding the case, Ruslan Eyyubov, Rəşad Daşdəmirov, Fərid Usubov, Heydər Eyvazlı, Tamerlan Axundzadə, Zaur Haşımov, Fərruz Haqverdiyev, and Fariz Məhərrəmov were taken into custody by court order based on the petition of the preliminary investigation body and the submission of the prosecutor conducting procedural supervision over the preliminary investigation. Firuz Əliyev was subjected to a measure of restraint other than arrest. Other individuals, having left the country to evade investigation, have been declared internationally wanted with a pre-trial detention order issued in absentia.
Furthermore, in another criminal case under preliminary investigation by the Chief Department for Combating Corruption under the Prosecutor General, illegal actions of "RR Caspi," "Səmayə Co," "Səmayə Logistic," and other Limited Liability Companies, as well as officials of the State Border Service, involved in smuggling and other crimes, have been exposed.
The preliminary investigation has established reasonable suspicions that Ramin Axundov, the founder and de facto head of "RR Caspi" LLC, Elşən Əhmədov, the ship's captain of the same LLC, Elçin Əsgərov, the ship's mechanic, Amid Sayılov, a ship's sailor, Samir Qəhrəmanbəyli, who is executing the company's affairs, Vüsal Sadıqov, head of the 14th coastal control unit of the 3rd Coastal Control Department of the Coast Guard of the State Border Service, Valeh Səmədov, a controller in the same unit, as well as Elgün Nəzərov, Emin Nəzərov, Heıdarı Mohammad Reza Alı oğlu, Amal Əzizov, Əbülfət İsmayılzadə, Şahin Heydərov, Vüqar İsmayılov, who carried out the transportation and storage of tobacco products by vehicles, and others whose identities are being investigated, formed a criminal group and smuggled tobacco products subject to excise stamping, valued at over 1 million manats, without such stamps via ship through an unregistered docking bridge illegally constructed on the coast of the Caspian Sea in the Alat settlement of the Qaradağ district of Baku city into the country.
The aforementioned individuals have been charged as accused persons under the relevant articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan:
- 206.3.2 (smuggling by a group of persons who had previously conspired and by an official using their official position),
- 213-1.2.1, 213-1.2.3 (storage of goods subject to excise stamping in large quantities without such stamping, for the purpose of sale, by a group of persons who had previously conspired),
- 341.2.1 and 341.2.3 (abuse of power by a group of persons and leading to grave consequences).
Regarding the case, Elşən Əhmədov, Elçin Əsgərov, Amid Sayılov, Samir Qəhrəmanbəyli, Vüsal Sadıqov, Emin Nəzərov, Heıdarı Mohammad Reza Alı oğlu, Şahid Heydərov, and Vüqar İsmayılov were taken into custody by court order based on the petition of the preliminary investigation body and the submission of the prosecutor conducting procedural supervision over the preliminary investigation. Valeh Səmədov was placed under house arrest. Other individuals, having left the country to evade investigation, have been declared internationally wanted with a pre-trial detention order issued in absentia.
Currently, necessary investigative and operational-search measures are continuing in the case, the activities of the mentioned legal entities are being checked, and investigative and operational-search measures are ongoing to bring to criminal responsibility the members of the criminal group involved in the commission of the said crimes.
Further information regarding the results will be provided to the public.