Baku: A court hearing was conducted regarding the appeal of former Director General of SOCAR-AQS LLC, Ramin Isayev, who is accused of embezzlement on a particularly large scale and is currently in custody. The Baku Court of Appeal, presided over by Judge Murad Mammadov, reached a decision today.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the appeal was rejected, and the verdict from the lower court was confirmed. Ramin Isayev was sentenced by the Baku Court on Grave Crimes to 14 years of imprisonment. The sentence also includes a four-year prohibition from holding managerial and financially responsible roles in state and local self-government bodies. The court also satisfied SOCAR's civil claim, and the defendant's property will be confiscated. Isayev is to serve his sentence in a strict-regime penal institution.

Ramin Isayev faces accusations of embezzling 54 million manats. He has been charged under several articles of the Criminal Code, including Article 179.4 for embezzlement on a particularly large scale, Article 193-1.3.2 for the legalization of property obtained by criminal means, Article 308.2 for abuse of official authority causing grave consequences, and Article 313 for official forgery.

Ramin Isayev was removed from his position as Director General of SOCAR-AQS LLC in 2020. His arrest was executed by the Main Department for Combating Corruption under the Prosecutor General.