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KHADIJA ISMAILOVA SHEDS LIGHT ON BUSINESS INTERESTS OF FAMILY OF ALI HASANOV, HEAD OF PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION OF AZERBAIJAN
20:20 25/06/2014 >> SOCIETY
Journalist Khadija Ismayilova's investigation published on the website
of the Centre for the study of corruption and organized crime (OCCRP),
describes the business interests of the wife and the son ofthe head
of the department of social and political issues of the Presidential
Administration of Azerbaijan Ali Hasanov.
The article states that Hasanov's wife, business woman Sona Veliyeva,
manages the newspaper "Caspian", is a member of the National
Television and Radio Council (NTRC), and also owns and manages
several enterprises.
"Veliyeva and her family get big profits from the companies that they
own. This caused a conflict of interest which has not been considered
by the Government of Azerbaijan," the article states.
According to the investigation, Hasanov's son, Shamhal Hasanli, among
other things, is engaged in the production of soap operas. The author
notes that the NTRC has banned broadcasting of foreign TV soap operas.
The "Kaspi Global" company headed by Hasanli has created three national
soap operas, and one of them has been created at the expense of the
state budget.
The entertainments are not the only business area for Hasanly thriving
through family ties, writes Ismailova. In April 2011, the National
Council of Radio and Television allocated frequencies for "Araz FM"
which is a radio related to Hasanov's family. Frequency 103,3 FM
formerly belonged to Azerbaijani BBC Service, it was banned (apparently
for political reasons) in 2009. Hasanov said then that the state law
prohibits the foreign organizations to broadcast in Azerbaijan.
"Araz FM" belongs to a man named Etiram Karimov and a company called
"Teleradio Araz", which, in its turn, is a part of "Golden Prince"
LLC. Organization "Golden Prince" was established in 2008 by an
Iranian citizen Cyrus Guchhani and a citizen of Azerbaijan Azer
Veliyev. Veliyev reportedly is a relative to Sona Veliyeva and is
her business partner, as it is written in the article.
In 2010, when FM Araz received a license, Rasul Jafarov who rivaled
with the RadioTV "Araz" for obtaining a license, raised the question
of foreign ownership. In 2010 Jafarov tried to get a license for
his project an "Alternative Radio," but he was refused. However,
Araz FM was granted a license for a period of six years from the
NRTC. Jafarov filed a legal complaint and announced about a "political
discrimination." The case is in the European Court of Human Rights,
reads the article.
Broadcasting Company "Araz" is registered by the same address as all
other companies associated with Hasanov's family. The opening ceremony
of one of the "Araz FM" studios which was held in one of the malls,
Shamhal Hasanli was introduced as CEO of the radio station.
The only press club in Baku, which can accommodate more than 30 people,
is also associated with Hasanov family, the article reads.
Ismailova notes that the International Press Center has begun operating
in 2003 at the same address where all the Hasanov family enterprises
are registered. After that, two independent press clubs were closed
because of financial problems and because of the fact that they
refused to renew the lease.
Another area of interest for this family is education. They are
connected with the fact that the government shuts the competing
schools pertaining to Fetullaha Gulen movement, the article reads.
According to the research, the preparatory courses for students at the
educational center "Caspian" administered by Sona Veliyeva, having
several branches across the capital, lag far behind Gulen schools
in popularity. Critics predict that the movement against Gulen in
Azerbaijan can only increase the popularity of the educational center
"Caspian."
In general, the list of family businesses belonging to Ali Hasanov
and compiled by Kh. Ismailova include 12 companies.
Source: Panorama.am
From: Baghdasarian
20:20 25/06/2014 >> SOCIETY
Journalist Khadija Ismayilova's investigation published on the website
of the Centre for the study of corruption and organized crime (OCCRP),
describes the business interests of the wife and the son ofthe head
of the department of social and political issues of the Presidential
Administration of Azerbaijan Ali Hasanov.
The article states that Hasanov's wife, business woman Sona Veliyeva,
manages the newspaper "Caspian", is a member of the National
Television and Radio Council (NTRC), and also owns and manages
several enterprises.
"Veliyeva and her family get big profits from the companies that they
own. This caused a conflict of interest which has not been considered
by the Government of Azerbaijan," the article states.
According to the investigation, Hasanov's son, Shamhal Hasanli, among
other things, is engaged in the production of soap operas. The author
notes that the NTRC has banned broadcasting of foreign TV soap operas.
The "Kaspi Global" company headed by Hasanli has created three national
soap operas, and one of them has been created at the expense of the
state budget.
The entertainments are not the only business area for Hasanly thriving
through family ties, writes Ismailova. In April 2011, the National
Council of Radio and Television allocated frequencies for "Araz FM"
which is a radio related to Hasanov's family. Frequency 103,3 FM
formerly belonged to Azerbaijani BBC Service, it was banned (apparently
for political reasons) in 2009. Hasanov said then that the state law
prohibits the foreign organizations to broadcast in Azerbaijan.
"Araz FM" belongs to a man named Etiram Karimov and a company called
"Teleradio Araz", which, in its turn, is a part of "Golden Prince"
LLC. Organization "Golden Prince" was established in 2008 by an
Iranian citizen Cyrus Guchhani and a citizen of Azerbaijan Azer
Veliyev. Veliyev reportedly is a relative to Sona Veliyeva and is
her business partner, as it is written in the article.
In 2010, when FM Araz received a license, Rasul Jafarov who rivaled
with the RadioTV "Araz" for obtaining a license, raised the question
of foreign ownership. In 2010 Jafarov tried to get a license for
his project an "Alternative Radio," but he was refused. However,
Araz FM was granted a license for a period of six years from the
NRTC. Jafarov filed a legal complaint and announced about a "political
discrimination." The case is in the European Court of Human Rights,
reads the article.
Broadcasting Company "Araz" is registered by the same address as all
other companies associated with Hasanov's family. The opening ceremony
of one of the "Araz FM" studios which was held in one of the malls,
Shamhal Hasanli was introduced as CEO of the radio station.
The only press club in Baku, which can accommodate more than 30 people,
is also associated with Hasanov family, the article reads.
Ismailova notes that the International Press Center has begun operating
in 2003 at the same address where all the Hasanov family enterprises
are registered. After that, two independent press clubs were closed
because of financial problems and because of the fact that they
refused to renew the lease.
Another area of interest for this family is education. They are
connected with the fact that the government shuts the competing
schools pertaining to Fetullaha Gulen movement, the article reads.
According to the research, the preparatory courses for students at the
educational center "Caspian" administered by Sona Veliyeva, having
several branches across the capital, lag far behind Gulen schools
in popularity. Critics predict that the movement against Gulen in
Azerbaijan can only increase the popularity of the educational center
"Caspian."
In general, the list of family businesses belonging to Ali Hasanov
and compiled by Kh. Ismailova include 12 companies.
Source: Panorama.am
From: Baghdasarian