Former Rector Elshad Abdullayev on International Wanted List

Former rector of the private Azerbaijan International University (AIU) Elshad Abdullayev has appeared on the international wanted list. He is accused of trafficking in human organs and abuse of office.

According to the press service of the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan (Aug. 26), on the basis of the appeal of Ukrainian law enforcement bodies in the framework of mutual legal assistance, a case of illegal human organ trafficking was filed against the Medical Center at the Azerbaijan Medical University (AMU) and a criminal investigation was launched into illegal kidney transplants from donors to foreign recipients. 

The investigation established that the chief medical officer of the Medical Center, Dilara Ismailova, despite the absence of a license for transplant operations at this institution, as directed by the Rector of AMU Abdullayev, created the conditions for 13 organ transplants in March-December 2009. In this Ismaylova entered into a criminal conspiracy with the citizens of Israel, Boris Volfman, Yury Katzman and others. 

As donors, citizens of Ukraine were used. During the operations transplanted organs were carried to 11 recipients from Israel, one from France and another from the United States.

The Director of the Medical Center Ismailova, receiving cash for operations of USD 130,000, not drawing the money, gave it to Abdullayev.

Abdullaev and Ismailova were attracted to the case as accused under articles 137.3 (purchase and sale of human organs or tissues) and 308.2 (abuse of power) of the Criminal Code.

The case of Ismailova was separated and on 26 August 2013 sent for consideration to the Baku Court of Grave Crimes.

Due to the fact that Abdullayev is hiding abroad, the Nasimi District Court of Baku has taken in his regard a measure in the form of arrest. To ensure this measure Abdullayev was registered on the international wanted list.

* Abdullayev is currently in exile in France, and for the period from September 2012 he has made statements in the media, which claimed the involvement of high-ranking officials of Azerbaijan in the kidnapping of his brother, Vice-Rector of AMU and intelligence officer Mahir Abdullayev in 2003. In addition, Abdullayev declared transmission through the then deputy Guler Ahmadova of $1 million to the head of the Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev in order to become a member of the Parliament at the elections of 2005.

During the period from the end of September last year Abdullayev has published about 20 videos related to the criminal investigation into the disappearance of his brother, and the promises to make him a member of parliament.

On these recordings the sums of money for the return of M. Abdullaeyv are discussed with E. Abdullayev by representatives of various state agencies - the parliament, the courts, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of National Security, the Special State Guard Service, businesses, and individuals, introducing themselves as authorized officials. -06d-