Baku: Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan have been exposed for alleged illegal activities, APA reports, citing the Press Service of the Prosecutor General’s Office.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, a criminal case has been launched by the Anti-Corruption Department of the Prosecutor General’s Office based on allegations that Rashad Yolchiyev, Deputy Head of the State Technical Supervision Department at the Agricultural Services Agency, and Arif Hasanov, Head of the Technical Supervision Organization Sector at the State Agricultural Development Center ?1, accepted bribes while performing their official duties. The case was initiated following an operation conducted in response to these allegations.

Investigations revealed that from 2022 to 2025, the officials allegedly accepted bribes in exchange for vehicle registration, issuance of license plates, technical inspections, and certification for agricultural and other transport vehicles.

During the operation, searches were conducted in the officials’ offices, where significant evidence related to the case was discovered and seized.

Based on the initial evidence collected, Rashad Yolchiyev and Arif Hasanov were charged under Articles 311.3.1 (on preliminary arrangement by group of persons or organized group), 311.3.2 (repeatedly), and 311.3.3 (in the large amount) of the Criminal Code. Following a motion by the investigative authority and a submission by the prosecutor overseeing the preliminary investigation, the Binagadi District Court ruled to place them under house arrest as the primary measure and to remove them from their official positions as an additional precautionary measure.

The preliminary investigation into the criminal case is still ongoing.