Baku, September 24, 2025
The first signs of asset seizures linked to disgraced SOCAR executive Adnan Ahmadzade are beginning to surface.
Social media lit up late Tuesday night with claims that the nationwide Rahat supermarket chain – one of Azerbaijan’s largest grocery networks – may be shutting down or changing ownership following the arrest of its alleged shadow patron.
Officially, Rahat belongs to ANC Group LLC, whose legal representative is Samir Abdullayev. Corporate records list Abda Retail Investment Holding LTD as a 90% shareholder and Jalal Babakishiyev with 10%.
But for years, the chain has been widely rumored to be under the informal control of Ahmadzade, who now faces charges of grand embezzlement and economic sabotage.
The company moved quickly to deny the closure talk. In a statement to Pravda.az, Rahat stressed: “Our supermarkets continue operating as usual. All staff are at their posts, our stores remain open to customers, and there are no disruptions. The Adnan Ahmadzade issue is not something we can comment on.”
Still, the timing has fueled speculation. For many, the supermarket chain — with its dozens of outlets across the country – represents the most visible piece of Ahmadzade’s commercial empire, now under pressure.
“If Rahat goes, it means the crackdown is real and not just words,” wrote one commentator on Facebook.
Analysts suggest the state may move to freeze or transfer control of businesses tied to Ahmadzade as the investigation widens.
“We are likely at the beginning of a domino effect. Large networks like Rahat are too strategic to be left untouched if proven to be part of the scheme,” said one economic observer in Baku.
For now, customers still shop, shelves remain stocked, and cashiers scan items. But the uncertainty surrounding Rahat has sparked a new wave of anxiety: whether the arrest of one of Azerbaijan’s once-untouchable oil traders could soon redraw the country’s retail landscape.
