Jahangir Hajiyev


Jahangir Fevzi oglu Hajiyev is an Azerbaijani convicted fraudster and former banker. He was the chairman of the International Bank of Azerbaijan from 2001 until he resigned in March 2015 citing health concerns. On 14 October 2016, the Baku Court for Grave Crimes sentenced Hajiyev to 15 years on charges of fraud, embezzlement, and missappropriation of public funds.

Education

Hajiyev attended Azerbaijan State University and graduated in 1986. In 1993, he earned an MBA at the University of Texas at Austin, and was awarded a Ph.D. in International Economics from the Institute of Economics, Russian Academy of Sciences in 2005.

Career

Hajiyev worked in the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations of Azerbaijan from 1993 to 1995.
He joined the International Bank of Azerbaijan in 1995. In an interview with the Azerbaijan Press Agency Hajiyev noted that the optimal number of banks in Azerbaijan must be 20 and said "I always supported market regulation. The banks that want to increase authorized capital will do that, because this is important for banks which need high positions".

Criminal charges

Jahangir Hajiyev, along with 7 other persons, was accused of embezzling public funds amounting to 211.59 million AZN under articles #178.3.2 and 179.1 of the Azerbaijan's Criminal Code. On December 5, 2015, an Azerbaijani court detained Jahangir Hajiyev for crimes of fraud and misappropriation of public funds. He faced charges under Articles 179.3.1 and 179.3.2, 308.2, 309.2, 313, and 228.1 and 228.4 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan.
On October 14, 2016, a Baku court sentenced former chairman of the board of the International Bank of Azerbaijan Jahangir Hajiyev to 15 years imprisonment for grave crimes. Additionally, the Court decided that Mr Hajiyev had to pay 63 million AZN. And as security for loans fictional pledges were presented. Hajiyev and his lawyers declined all the crime charges and indicated that all bank loans were given under the permission of Central Bank and Ministry of Finance.

Personal life

Hajiyev is married to Zamira Hajiyeva, the first person to receive an Unexplained Wealth Order, under a new UK anti-corruption law.