Baku, September 19, 2025
Local media report that prominent businessman and former SOCAR executive Adnan Ahmadzade has been detained in Baku after arriving in Azerbaijan earlier this week. Attempts to reach Ahmadzade by phone went unanswered. There has been no official confirmation from law-enforcement bodies or SOCAR.
The sources familiar with the matter say Ahmadzade – who two years ago founded ABDA Invest Holding and earlier served as a deputy head in SOCAR’s Investment Department – is suspected of violating national regulations by blending “Azeri Light” crude with other oil grades.
Background: Azerbaijani and regional outlets have repeatedly described Ahmadzade as a close friend of Lionel Messi; Ahmadzade has posted from Messi’s home and attended the footballer’s birthday in Rosario, and he was widely credited with organizing Messi’s Baku visit in December 2024.
The coverage comes after chloride contamination was detected this summer in several crude batches that reached Romania and Italy. While some outlets claimed exports from Ceyhan were halted, BP-Azerbaijan denied a stoppage, saying contaminants were found in several storage tanks, the oil was reprocessed, and shipments continued via other tanks.
Transit of Kazakh crude through BTC paused and resumed last week, local reports said. Romanian media also cited unnamed law-enforcement sources alleging a Russian link to the contamination; Moscow has not commented.
Note: The arrest and the specific allegations have not been publicly confirmed by Azerbaijani authorities. Ahmadzade has not responded to the reports. All individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
