Investigation focuses on security for Aliyev's grandsons

PanARMENIAN.Net - An investigation by exiled Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Mukhtarli alleges that the grandsons of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev have been using official presidential limousines and state security services reserved for the president and his immediate family.

According to Azerbaijani law, members of the president's extended family are not entitled to use state resources, including escorts provided by the State Special Protection Service.

Writing for the news outlet Qazetci, which he founded, Mukhtarli said he compared the license plates of the convoy that transported the president's grandsons, Ali and Mikayil Agalarov, to the opening ceremony of their private businesses with the registration numbers assigned to vehicles operated by the State Special Protection Service, OC Media reported.

The 17-year-old twins recently opened a burger restaurant and a matcha café in Baku with the support of their father, Russian-based pop singer and billionaire Emin Agalarov.

Azerbaijani lawyer Samad Rahimli, who lives abroad, told Qazetci that under Azerbaijani legislation the president's grandchildren and other relatives cannot be considered members of the president's family in the legal sense and therefore have no right to use state property or privileges granted to the head of state.

Another source interviewed by Qazetci, police representative Emin Ahmadbayov, said the law does not allow the president's relatives, including his grandchildren, to travel in official motorcades or have traffic police clear their route in advance.

Questions over the overlap between the Aliyev family and the Azerbaijani state have been raised repeatedly over the years. Heydar Aliyev, Ilham Aliyev's father, served as president until 2003, when deteriorating health forced him to leave office. After Ilham Aliyev became prime minister, presidential elections were held later that year, and he won more than 75% of the vote. International election observers said the vote was marred by electoral fraud.

Today, Mehriban Aliyeva, Ilham Aliyev's wife, serves as Azerbaijan's first vice president, while their son, Heydar Aliyev Jr., has appeared at official state events despite holding no public office. Media reports have also claimed that he has accumulated substantial wealth.

Although the 64-year-old president has not publicly discussed stepping down, political observers have widely speculated that he is preparing Heydar Aliyev Jr. to eventually succeed him.