Who is Qazanfər Abdullayev, the Nakhchivan deputy who lost his seat?

The political and public activities of Qazanfər Abdullayev, a deputy in the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, have returned to the spotlight in recent days. On September 24, he was reported to have resigned as chairman of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Council of Trade Unions. On October 1, the Central Election Commission of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic decided to terminate his parliamentary mandate.

“Operative Information Center-OMM” reports that Abdullayev was stripped of his mandate following an application he submitted himself. The CEC reviewed the request in accordance with the law and determined that there were legal grounds to terminate his mandate.

Who is Qazanfər Abdullayev, who has held various positions in recent years, and how did his career develop?

From a security guard to head of the trade union council

Qazanfər Ismayil oghlu Abdullayev was born on May 26, 1983, in the village of Bənəniyar in the Julfa district of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

He studied at Bənəniyar village secondary school from 1989 to 1998 and at Secondary School No. 9, named after N. Tusi, in Nakhchivan city in 2000.

One of the first stages of his working career was a job as a security guard at Terminal LLC in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

From 2001 to 2005, he studied accounting and auditing at Nakhchivan State University, graduating with honors.

He completed military service in 2005-2006.

He later worked as an accountant at the State Committee for Land and Cartography of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

Rise through the Council of Trade Unions

From 2010 to 2023, Abdullayev worked as head of the Finance and Economic Department of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Council of Trade Unions.

In 2021, he was awarded the “For Services to Trade Unions” medal.

From March to May 2023, he served as secretary of the council and head of its Finance and Economic Department.

On May 18, 2023, he was elected chairman of the council by a decision of the second assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Council of Trade Unions.

His public activities subsequently expanded further.

On July 31, 2023, he was elected chairman of the Nakhchivan Football Federation. From September of that year, he also served as deputy chairman of the Azerbaijan Trade Unions Confederation.

His parliamentary career has also ended

Abdullayev was elected to the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic from Constituency No. 39, Bənəniyar.

A week after he resigned as chairman of the Council of Trade Unions on September 24, a decision was also made concerning his parliamentary mandate.

At a meeting held on October 1, the Nakhchivan CEC considered Abdullayev’s application to relinquish his mandate and decided to terminate it.

Media reports about his property preceded his resignation

Before Abdullayev’s resignation, various media outlets published reports about his property.

Those reports claimed that he owned or used various cars, apartments in Nakhchivan and Baku, a private house and commercial properties.

Lists published in the media named Toyota Land Cruiser, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Mitsubishi L200 and Chevrolet Malibu vehicles, apartments in Nakhchivan and Baku, as well as catering businesses called “Moon” and “Zümrüd.”

These claims appeared in separate media reports. No separately verified official information confirming that the listed properties belong to Abdullayev is provided here.

What has been said about the reason for his resignation?

The Azerbaijan Trade Unions Confederation confirmed that Abdullayev resigned as chairman of the Council of Trade Unions on September 24.

According to information released by the confederation, he stepped down at his own request because of health problems. It had been announced that his resignation application would be considered on October 8.

Thus, within a few days, Abdullayev’s resignation as chairman of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Council of Trade Unions was formalized, and his parliamentary mandate was terminated.

No separate official decision has so far been announced regarding his future status as chairman of the Nakhchivan Football Federation.