Baku, September 24, 2025
Following the high-profile arrest of businessman and former SOCAR executive Adnan Ahmadzade, a court has ordered the seizure of his assets in Azerbaijan and the freezing of both his and his wife Gulsafa Jafarova’s bank accounts.
Legal experts say the move could mark only the beginning of a broader process.
Speaking to Globalinfo.az, lawyer Mehman Muradlı explained the rationale behind the court’s decision:
“The initial assumption is that these properties were purchased with illegally obtained funds. If the court later proves that the assets and money in the bank accounts were indeed acquired unlawfully, they will be confiscated and transferred to state ownership. In such a case, the damage caused to the state would be covered through these assets. The matter falls under the authority of the Prosecutor General’s Office department on special confiscation issues. During the investigation, witnesses will be questioned and other procedural steps will be taken. Final decisions will be announced once the investigation concludes.”
Another legal expert, Ramil Suleymanov, underlined that asset seizures are tightly regulated:
“The assets of a detained person and their close relatives can only be frozen by a court ruling. If, during the investigation, it is established that there are more properties acquired through criminal means, the investigator can again apply to the court for an additional decision. On the other hand, if Ahmadzade’s family members manage to prove with documents that the properties were acquired through legitimate income, the court can lift the seizure.”
While the legal process unfolds, the first tremors in Ahmadzade’s business empire are already being felt. His stake in the “Rahat” supermarket chain – one of the country’s most visible retail brands – has reportedly become the first property to face ownership changes, signaling the start of a wider wave of asset transfers linked to the case.
