Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BAKU1112
2007-09-07 12:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baku
Cable title:
BAKU AIRPORT SECURITY OFFICIALS ARRESTED ON TIP
how-toVZCZCXRO1013 PP RUEHDBU DE RUEHKB #1112 2501229 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 071229Z SEP 07 FM AMEMBASSY BAKU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3835 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 2359 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0686 RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 001112
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP MEGAN HALL, EUR/PGI JODY BUCKNEBERG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KCOR KCRM KWMN AJ
SUBJECT: BAKU AIRPORT SECURITY OFFICIALS ARRESTED ON TIP
CHARGES
Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION DONALD LU PER 1.4(B,D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 001112
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP MEGAN HALL, EUR/PGI JODY BUCKNEBERG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KCOR KCRM KWMN AJ
SUBJECT: BAKU AIRPORT SECURITY OFFICIALS ARRESTED ON TIP
CHARGES
Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION DONALD LU PER 1.4(B,D).
1. (SBU) On September 6, police arrested Head of Baku Airport
Security Emil Suleymanov and an unconfirmed number of other
airport officials on charges of facilitating trafficking in
persons. According to press reports, an anonymous source
said that Suleymanov helped traffickers transport victims
abroad from Baku's Heydar Aliyev International Airport. Some
media outlets reported that two airport security workers also
were arrested. The airport officials' arrest is the first
major action the GOAJ has taken to address government
officials' alleged complicity in trafficking.
2. (C) While the Azerbaijani Airlines (AZAL) press office
stated publicly that the reports of Suleymanov's arrest were
not true, an employee of the State Civil Aviation
Administration unofficially confirmed Suleymanov's dismissal
and arrest, but did not know how many others had been
arrested. He said that Suleymanov was known to have
overstepped his authority with airport patrons, and was not
on good terms with airport officials in other sections,
including customs. Some Embassy contacts speculate that
Suleymanov and other airport security officials are linked to
the Azerbaijani Ministry of National Security. Suleymanov
has been one of a handful of accessible and generally helpful
officials in the notoriously difficult airport administration.
3. (C) COMMENT: Heydar Aliyev International Airport is under
the tight control of Jahangir Alasgarov, head of AZAL and
close confidante of President Aliyev. Rumors of customs
abuses and other illegal activities at the airport abound,
and Suleymanov's arrest likely signals a shake-up in
Alasgarov's empire that will only become apparent over time.
Regardless of any political maneuverings associated with
Suleymanov's arrest, it is significant that the GOAJ for the
first time has acknowledged any possible government role in
the trafficking of persons. We will continue to monitor the
situation and report developments.
DERSE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP MEGAN HALL, EUR/PGI JODY BUCKNEBERG
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KCOR KCRM KWMN AJ
SUBJECT: BAKU AIRPORT SECURITY OFFICIALS ARRESTED ON TIP
CHARGES
Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION DONALD LU PER 1.4(B,D).
1. (SBU) On September 6, police arrested Head of Baku Airport
Security Emil Suleymanov and an unconfirmed number of other
airport officials on charges of facilitating trafficking in
persons. According to press reports, an anonymous source
said that Suleymanov helped traffickers transport victims
abroad from Baku's Heydar Aliyev International Airport. Some
media outlets reported that two airport security workers also
were arrested. The airport officials' arrest is the first
major action the GOAJ has taken to address government
officials' alleged complicity in trafficking.
2. (C) While the Azerbaijani Airlines (AZAL) press office
stated publicly that the reports of Suleymanov's arrest were
not true, an employee of the State Civil Aviation
Administration unofficially confirmed Suleymanov's dismissal
and arrest, but did not know how many others had been
arrested. He said that Suleymanov was known to have
overstepped his authority with airport patrons, and was not
on good terms with airport officials in other sections,
including customs. Some Embassy contacts speculate that
Suleymanov and other airport security officials are linked to
the Azerbaijani Ministry of National Security. Suleymanov
has been one of a handful of accessible and generally helpful
officials in the notoriously difficult airport administration.
3. (C) COMMENT: Heydar Aliyev International Airport is under
the tight control of Jahangir Alasgarov, head of AZAL and
close confidante of President Aliyev. Rumors of customs
abuses and other illegal activities at the airport abound,
and Suleymanov's arrest likely signals a shake-up in
Alasgarov's empire that will only become apparent over time.
Regardless of any political maneuverings associated with
Suleymanov's arrest, it is significant that the GOAJ for the
first time has acknowledged any possible government role in
the trafficking of persons. We will continue to monitor the
situation and report developments.
DERSE