On December 13, the Sabail District Court of Baku decided to remand Hijran Rustamov, the chairman of the Urban Planning and Architecture Committee of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, until February 10, 2023, based on the request of the investigator.

Rustamov is accused of misappropriating official powers in the ongoing criminal case and embezzling particularly large amounts of state funds intended for the implementation of construction and improvement works in the territory of the Autonomous Republic. A criminal case has been opened against him under Article 179.4 of the Criminal Code (embezzlement, especially when it is committed by causing a large amount of damage).

Rustamov is accused of embezzling EUR 117.3 million of state funds.

Earlier, on November 26, Caucasus Watch reported that the Sabail District Court of Baku, presided over by Judge Ulviyya Shukurova, chose a four-month preventive measure against Rafael Aliyev, the Minister of Finance of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, in the ongoing criminal case at the State Security Service.

On November 24, the Sabail District Court of Baku arrested Mansur Asgarov, the head of the Customs Tariffs Regulation and Payments Department of the State Customs Committee of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, for a period of 4 months. He is found guilty under Article 179.4 of the Criminal Code (employment or waste, when committed by causing significant damage).