Eight officials have been arrested in Azerbaijan on charges of accepting bribes in exchange for granting military service deferments. According to a joint statement from the Prosecutor General's Office and the State Service for Mobilization and Conscription, the Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the arrests followed extensive investigative measures.
The Anti-Corruption Directorate under the Prosecutor General conducted operations based on information regarding illegal activities by officials in the Garadagh district department, as well as the Saatlı, Jabrayil, and Agdash district branches of the Service. Investigations revealed reasonable suspicions that these officials accepted various sums of money to exempt individuals from military training sessions, grant deferments from active duty, and ensure the removal of travel restrictions from the country.
The list of those charged includes Nurlan Abbasov, head of the Agdash branch; Murad Ahmadov, head of the Saatlı branch; and Niyam Madatsoylu, deputy head of the Jabrayil branch, along with several other officers. They have been charged under Articles 311.3.1, 311.3.2, and 311.3.3 of the Criminal Code, which pertain to large-scale bribery committed by a group in prior conspiracy. By the decisions of the Baku Military Court, the individuals have been placed under arrest and removed from their official positions as the investigation continues.
This crackdown is part of Azerbaijan's ongoing commitment to ensuring transparency and integrity within its state institutions. The State Service for Mobilization and Conscription is a vital body responsible for the nation's defense personnel management, and the government has signaled a zero-tolerance policy toward any systemic irregularities or corruption that could undermine the country's military readiness and the rule of law.
