Verdict Handed Down in $42M Embezzlement Case, Highlighting Allegations Against Former Chief of Staff

A Baku court has sentenced Zahid Niftaliyev, a former senior officer of the Ministry of Defense and a man known as the "right-hand man" of former Chief of General Staff Najmaddin Sadikov, to 12 years in prison on charges of large-scale embezzlement. The verdict, delivered at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes on July 30, closes one chapter of a complex case that has repeatedly brought allegations against Sadikov to the forefront.

The charges stem from a 2016 incident where Niftaliyev allegedly created a company, "Shahin Co," and submitted false documents to "Ata Bank" to secure a loan of 42.5 million manats. According to the indictment, the loan was never repaid and the funds were embezzled.

In his defense, Niftaliyev has consistently maintained his innocence, claiming he never received any of the money. He asserted that the loan was formalized under his name at the explicit instruction of General Sadikov and was part of a larger agreement between Sadikov and the late Minister of Taxes, Fazil Mammadov.

"Who gave me the 42 million?" Niftaliyev stated in court. "I got involved in this because they told me it was a project for the state. Later, I found out they were doing business over my head. I can't say whether Najmaddin or Fazil embezzled this money. Najmaddin should come here and say it himself..."

During the trial, Niftaliyev's lawyer, Ali Adigozalov, expressed frustration that a thorough investigation was not conducted. He argued that General Sadikov was the "key figure" in the case and should have been questioned to ensure a fair verdict.

"I regret that we were unable to question him in court," Adigozalov said. "If we had, we would have asked him why he sent Zahid Niftaliyev to the bank. Overall, as the defense, many of our questions remained unanswered."

Motions were also made to question Minister of Defense Zakir Hasanov, but these requests were also denied.

The 12-year sentence is a combination of two separate cases. The new verdict of 9 years for the embezzlement charge was merged with a previous sentence of 8 years and 6 months. Niftaliyev was first arrested in 2022 on bribery charges, accused of abusing his connections with Sadikov to take bribes and misuse his position. He was also accused of using military personnel as laborers at his private summer house.

While Niftaliyev was briefly released with a fine in 2023, a November decision by the Ganja Court of Appeals re-arrested him and upheld the 8-year, 6-month sentence.

Najmaddin Sadikov, who served as the Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army from 1993 to 2020, has been a central figure in Niftaliyev's testimony. His name has also been mentioned in connection with other high-profile cases, including the torture of military personnel in Tartar and the alleged embezzlement of 143 million manats within the Ministry of Defense.

Despite these repeated mentions in court proceedings and testimonies, Sadikov has not been questioned or provided a public statement regarding the accusations against him.