A fraudster or a victim?

The Attorney General’s Office has completed an investigation of executive Arzu Kazymov – one of the defendants in the controversial case centering on video of the former Rector of the Azerbaijan International University (AIU) Elshad Abdullayev.

On one of the videos, talks between Kazymov and Abdullayev were recorded, wherein they discuss the issue of the transfer of a large amount of money in exchange for the release of Abdullayev’s brother Mahir, who was kidnapped on October 13, 2003. It was alleged that the money was intended for the late Deputy Minister of Interior Zahid Dunyamaliyev.

Working in conjunction with the Prosecutor General’s Office, a team was established to investigate the abduction of M. Abdullayev. Kazymov was charged under Article 178.3.2 (fraud with damage on a large scale).

The investigation established that Kazymov argued about contact with various officials and gave false promises that he would find M. Abdullayev. He fraudulently took $1.5 million from E. Abdullayev with promises that he would find the missing man.

The investigation did not find others to be involved in Kazymov’s crime, including Dunyamaliyev. The criminal case against Kazymov was sent to the Baku Court of Grave Crimes.

A separate case highlighted a criminal investigation into E. Abdullayev’s attempt to provide a $ 1.5 million bribe, and this case was sent to the Anti-Corruption Department under Prosecutor General’s Office. This is E. Abdullayev’s second accusation of trying to bribe. Earlier this charge was brought in connection with the arrest of former assistant vice-premier Vagif Huseyn, to whom allegedly E. Abdullayev gave a bribe in order to prevent the closure of the AIU.

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