Azerbaijan’s Ganja administration under investigation for corruption

Azerbaijan Launches Investigation into Ganja Spending

Azerbaijan – The Prosecutor General’s Office of Azerbaijan has initiated a corruption investigation into financial irregularities within the Ganja administration, focusing on construction and renovation projects. The investigation, prompted by an audit by the Chamber of Accounts, centers around approximately ₼11 million ($6.5 million) in discrepancies. The audit revealed inflated costs across multiple projects, including the Ganja Sports Palace, where construction expenses were overstated by ₼9.5 million ($5.6 million), and a residential building, resulting in an overpayment of ₼1.3 million ($765,000).

Further irregularities were identified in housing repairs, road repairs, and the Ecological Park Complex, with overpayments totaling ₼1.2 million ($710,000) and ₼155,000 ($91,000) respectively. Contractors were also found to have been overpaid in several road repair projects, totaling over ₼252,000 ($148,000). While some overpayments were subsequently returned to the state budget, legal proceedings remain ongoing.

Niyazi Bayramov, the head of the Ganja administration, was reportedly in Qingdao, China, during the launch of the investigation. Bayramov, appointed in 2018, has faced previous corruption allegations, including claims regarding his son’s assets. Nine local officials have been convicted of corruption in Azerbaijan in recent years, all members of the ruling party.

An anonymous economist highlighted a lack of transparency in public procurement, stating that the absence of independent oversight contributes to the problem. The investigation underscores ongoing concerns about accountability within the Ganja region. The investigation is ongoing, and the Prosecutor General’s Office has not yet released further details.

Topics: #azerbaijan #ganja #investigation