British court did not extradite Zamira Hajiyeva to Azerbaijan

Baku/09.30.19/Turan: A British court refused to extradite the spouse of the former head of the International Bank of Azerbaijan Zamira Hajiyeva to Azerbaijan.

According to Radio Liberty, a London court refused to extradite Zamira Hajiyeva to the Azerbaijani authorities. The Azerbaijani authorities insist on her extradition, since Hajiyeva and her husband are accused by law enforcement officers of embezzlement of funds in a particularly large amount,

The sentence to the former head of the International Bank of Azerbaijan, Jahangir Hajiyev, was handed down in October 2016; he was convicted of embezzlement of more than 211 million manat from the bank (about 138 million in US dollars at the exchange rate of that time) and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Three more accused were sentenced, and four were sentenced to probation. On September 5, a Baku court increased the sentence of Jahangir Hajiyev to 16.5 years, finding him guilty in a new case.

The court rejected the allegations of Zamira Hajiyeva"s lawyers that the case brought against her in Azerbaijan was "politically motivated" and admitted that Hajiyeva, who has been living in London since 2010, could have been involved in a money laundering and appropriation scheme. However, Judge Emma Arbatnot expressed doubts about the independence of Azerbaijani courts and motivated the refusal to extradite with the fact that in Azerbaijan Zamira Hajiyeva"s right to justice could be violated, the agency said.

Zamira Hajiyeva attracted the attention of British investigators with large expenses in the most expensive department store in London and the purchase of expensive real estate. A magistrate court in London on November 6, 2018 ordered the arrest of Hajiyeva. A British court later allowed her to be free on bail of half a million pounds.

Zamira Hajiyeva became the first foreigner in relation to whom the British National Agency for Combating Crime applied the legal mechanism "Warrant for wealth of unknown origin". The British authorities are demanding an explanation from Hajiyeva from where she received funds for the purchase of real estate in London with a total value of 22 million pounds ($ 28.8 million in US dollars), as well as expensive jewelry worth more than 400 thousand pounds. The appeal of Zamira Hajiyeva to use the warrant will be considered in December, the agency informs. A lawyer representing the Azerbaijani government said an appeal would be filed against the court"s decision. -02D-