Baku, July 31, 2025 — A high-profile corruption trial continues in Baku, where Anass Derraz, Vice President of the French water company SAUR, appeared in court to testify in a criminal case brought by Azerbaijan’s State Security Service (SSS). Derraz is accused of receiving large-scale bribes and participating in the laundering of criminal assets.
According to Oxu.Az, Derraz took the stand during the latest session at the Baku Serious Crimes Court, presided over by Judge Farid Namazov. The French executive stated that he had come to Azerbaijan on a business visit to explore investment opportunities in the country’s water infrastructure.
“On my second day in Azerbaijan, I was called in by the State Security Service for questioning,” Derraz told the court. “The allegations involve passive corruption and aiding in the legalization of criminally obtained property.”
Derraz explained that his legal troubles stem from professional dealings with Russian-Azerbaijani billionaire Farhad Akhmedov, who had been entangled in a high-profile divorce case in the UK. As part of court-imposed asset freezes, Akhmedov allegedly approached Derraz for legal consulting on managing his $500 million yacht Luna, which cost $16 million annually to operate.
“I was known for handling complex legal challenges. At the time, I was managing multibillion-dollar projects at Viola,” Derraz testified. He added that Akhmedov had granted him power of attorney, which was submitted into court records.
The defendant emphasized that he was acting as Akhmedov’s strategic consultant, specifically managing legal matters around Luna. Derraz also stated that he had agreed to a $2 million payment contingent on successfully lifting the yacht’s international arrest order — a fee he justified as proportional to the yacht’s value.
According to Derraz, French ex-presidential aide Alexandre Benalla, who was later dismissed from President Macron’s administration and subject to legal investigation in France, was also allegedly involved. Benalla reportedly had ties to Akhmedov’s ex-wife and was described as having “good connections in Dubai.”
The court hearing was adjourned to allow for the translation of documents submitted in English. The next session is scheduled for September 11.
Both Derraz and Benalla are accused of accepting large bribes in 2018 in exchange for helping Akhmedov evade international sanctions and lift asset freezes on his luxury yacht. Media reports allege that millions were wired to Derraz via Al Hilal Bank and to Benalla through Bank of Africa United Kingdom PLC.
Derraz has been charged under Articles 193-1.3.2 (large-scale money laundering) and 32.5, 311.3.3 (aiding and abetting in large-scale passive bribery) of Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code. He remains in Azerbaijan under a travel ban, while Interpol has issued a search notice for Benalla at Baku’s request.
