Islam Rzayev Removed from Position as Balakan District Leader, Arrest Reports Surface

Islam Rzayev

President Ilham Aliyev has removed Islam Rzayev from his position as the head of the Balakan District administration.

Rzayev had been in charge of Balakan for 14 years.

The official order did not say why Rzayev was dismissed.

Some pro-government websites are reporting that the State Security Service (SSS) carried out an operation in the district's government offices. They say Rzayev and others were taken into custody.

A series of arrests of local leaders in Azerbaijan started around December 2019. Back then, the SSS did similar operations in the Yevlakh and Agstafa districts. This then spread to Neftchala, Bilasuvar, Imishli, Kurdamir, Jalilabad, and Shamkir. Those arrested faced accusations of embezzlement and abuse of authority. Some completely denied the charges, while others admitted to some wrongdoing.

President Ilham Aliyev has removed Islam Rzayev from his role as leader of the Balakan district government.

The president's office published an order about this on its website on October 30.

The order did not give a reason for the removal.

Several news outlets with ties to the government are reporting that the State Security Service (SSS) did an operation at the district offices and took Rzayev and other people into custody.

Islam Rzayev, who is 60 years old, had been in charge of the district for 14 years.

Before this, he held different jobs in the governments of several districts and in state agencies.

The arrests of executive leaders in Azerbaijan began with the Yevlakh and Agstafa operations in December 2019.

Later, similar arrests happened in the Neftchala, Bilasuvar, Imishli, Kurdamir, Jalilabad, and Shamkir districts. The arrested leaders were hit with accusations of embezzlement and abuse of power. Some denied all charges, while others admitted to some of them.