Jahangir Hajiyev's Sister Complains about Arbitrariness of State Bodies

Baku / 14.05.19 / Turan: The sister of the former head of the International Bank of Azerbaijan (IBA) Jahangir Hajiyev, Amina Hajiyeva made a statement to the media, alleging an unreasonable violation of her rights.

So, after bringing her brother to criminal responsibility in 2015, she was banned from leaving the country. This ban remained in force even after six months ago the European Court of Human Rights granted her complaint and declared the ban on her leaving Azerbaijan unlawful.

She also claims a violation of her property inheritance rights. In particular, for already 3.5 years, under the secret order of the Ministry of Justice, she cannot formalize the inheritance of the property of her deceased mother.

In addition, from autumn 2017 to summer 2018, arrested J. Hajiyev was deprived of meetings with his sister and lawyers, as well as telephone conversations.

According to Hajiyeva, for the last 8 months, she also cannot visit her brother. Moreover, the former banker is not allowed telephone conversations with his relatives and is not even given books to read.

"To our and the lawyers" appeals to the Prison Service, we are told that there are no restrictions on meetings and telephone conversations. They redirect us to the prosecutor"s office, and they return the matter to the penitentiary service. This is utter arbitrariness and mockery of people," Hajiyeva wrote.

Regarding the criminal case of her brother, Amina Hajiyeva argues that the investigation is not conducted objectively. So, loans issued by the IBA with her brother, were used for their intended purpose and at their expense 70% of non-oil sector enterprises functioned, and thousands of jobs were created. After the arrest of Jahangir Hajiyev, most of these enterprises were closed, and some were sold for a pittance.

"In 2010, the tax authorities checked these enterprises and the cases were closed due to the absence of corpus delicti. But in the course of the investigation, these findings "disappeared," Hajiyeva wrote.

In conclusion, she noted that, having failed to achieve the restoration of justice, she was forced to turn for help to international organizations.

* Jahangir Hajiyev was arrested on December 5, 2015, and the Baku Court of Grave Crimes sentenced him to 15 years in prison.

Hajiyev and seven others were found guilty of abuse, fraud with causing major damage, embezzlement, abuse of office, and giving bribes.

In December 2018, the Prosecutor General"s Office brought charges against Hajiyev in a new case: under articles on appropriation of large sums of money, legalization of criminal funds, tax evasion, etc.

He is charged with the conclusion of transactions for the purchase / sale of promissory notes with no real value for a total amount of 3.4 billion dollars and 987 million euros.

In addition, on the instructions of Hajiyev, according to the investigation, numerous loan agreements were concluded in order to legalize funds in manat and foreign currency in the total amount of 900 million manat. These funds were transferred from bank accounts to other accounts for the purpose of assignment.

The investigation accuses Hajiyev of misappropriation, together with the former MP Dunyamin Khalilov and another 20 persons, of 4.7 billion manat.

In addition, according to the investigation, Hajiyev, together with Khalilov, being the actual heads of Aztorq LLC from 2011 to 2014, did not pay taxes to the state budget in the amount of 1 million 752 thousand manat.

Hajiyev and Khalilov rejected all the charges. -06B ---