BAKU, July 18, 2025 — A major corruption trial is underway in Azerbaijan involving Anass Derraz, vice president of the French multinational utility company SAUR. Derraz is facing serious charges of bribery and money laundering tied to a multimillion-dollar deal allegedly aimed at helping a sanctioned oligarch recover his luxury assets.
According to Report, the case is being heard at the Baku Serious Crimes Court under Judge Farid Namazov. A translator was provided for Derraz in both English and French. After reviewing the defendant’s personal details, the court formally launched the evidentiary phase of the trial, and the prosecutor read the final section of the indictment.
The case links Derraz to Alexandre Benalla, the controversial former security aide to French President Emmanuel Macron. Prosecutors accuse the two men of soliciting a $6.14 million bribe from Azerbaijani-Russian billionaire Farhad Akhmedov. In return, they allegedly promised to facilitate the lifting of international sanctions on Akhmedov’s assets, including the release of his €400 million superyacht Luna from arrest.
Evidence presented shows that Akhmedov agreed to an initial $600,000 payment, followed by an additional $5.54 million upon the yacht’s release. A consulting agreement was signed between the parties. Records indicate that $200,000 was wired to Derraz’s account at Al Hilal Bank, and $400,000 to Benalla’s account at Bank of Africa UK.
The Azerbaijani State Security Service (SSS) has charged Derraz with assisting in the acceptance of bribes (Article 32.5 and 311.3.3 of the Criminal Code) and with large-scale money laundering (Article 193-1.3.2). If convicted, he faces 8 to 12 years in prison.
Derraz has requested to testify at the next hearing, scheduled for July 31 at 09:30, to present his defense.
Meanwhile, Alexandre Benalla has been placed on Interpol’s Red Notice list—its highest alert level—at Azerbaijan’s request. The Red Notice, issued in April 2025, calls for his arrest and extradition to Baku. He is believed to be residing in a third country where extradition proceedings have begun.
The issuance of the Red Notice, based on a 2024 legal request from the SSS, underscores what Azerbaijani authorities describe as “irrefutable evidence” of Benalla’s role in the case.
The trial is drawing intense scrutiny both in Azerbaijan and internationally, as it touches on high-level political, diplomatic, and corporate networks—and raises questions about the use of influence in lifting international sanctions.
