Azerbaijani Laundromat, the IBA and Zamira Hajiyev

Zamira Hajiyev, the wife of a former Azerbaijani state bank chairman serving a 16-year prison sentence in Baku for embezzling over $3 billion, forfeited a $17.8 million London property and an exclusive golf club to the UK's National Crime Agency.

Hajiyev made headlines when she became the subject of the U.K.’s first-ever Unexplained Wealth Order in 2018.

👋 Meet Zamira Hajiyev

• Whilst Jahangir Hajiyev looted the bank he chaired, his wife Zamira Hajiyev enjoyed a lavish lifestyle in London.
• 🛫 She fly’s in a $42 million private jet.
• 🛍  Spent $21 million at Harrods department store in 10 years.
• 🍫 Splashed $40,000 on Godiva chocolates.

💰Key facts

• Jahangir Hajiyev, the former chairman of the International Bank of Azerbaijan (IBA), was convicted of large-scale fraud and embezzlement in 2016 and additional charges in 2019.
• The NCA believes Zamira’s properties were purchased as a result of criminal activity. But London’s High Court did not make any findings regarding her knowledge of how the properties were paid for.
• The NCA explained to OCCRP that they will sell the properties and give 70% of the net sale proceeds to the U.K. government - minus the agency’s legal costs - and return 30% to Hajiyeva.

💰 Azerbaijani Laundromat

• IBA is linked to the Azerbaijani Laundromat, a $2.9 billion money laundering scheme. Almost half the money came from IBA.
• The money laundering operation, detailed in a 2017 OCCRP investigation, consisted of four bank accounts belonging to four shell companies registered in the U.K.
• Was used as a slush fund and money laundering platform that paid European politicians & influencers.
• Bought luxury goods and services for prominent Azerbaijanis.

Explore the Azerbaijani Laundromat in the video below:

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