(U) REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON ALIYEV FAMILY

S E C R E T STATE 132385 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2034 TAGS: PINR EFIN EINV PGOV AJ SUBJECT: (U) REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON ALIYEV FAMILY PLANS AND INTENTIONS (C-RE9-02492) Classified By: ELISSA G. PITTERLE, DIRECTOR, INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C). ¶1. (S) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS ARE CLOSELY FOLLOWING THE ALIYEV GOVERNMENT AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION POST CAN PROVIDE ON PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV'S FAMILY, AS TIME AND RESOURCES PERMIT. INDIVIDUALS OF PARTICULAR INTEREST INCLUDE FIRST LADY MEHRIBAN ALIYEVA, PRESIDENTIAL DAUGHTER LEYLA ALIYEVA, AND LEYLA ALIYEVA'S FATHER-IN-LAW. ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED BY POST WILL BE USED IN ASSESSING THE ALIYEV FAMILY,S PLANS AND INTENTIONS AND TO KEEP US POLICYMAKERS INFORMED ON ANY KEY DEVELOPMENTS. 1) (S) TO WHAT EXTENT DOES MEHRIBAN ALIYEVA HAVE TRUST IN HER HUSBAND'S CABINET/INNER CIRCLE, AND DOES HER FAVOR OR DISAPPROVAL CARRY WEIGHT REGARDING THEIR PROMOTION PROSPECTS OR INVESTMENTS? WHAT LEVEL OF FINANCIAL COMPETITION IS THERE BETWEEN HER AND THE OTHER ELITES? 2) (S) TO WHAT EXTENT HAVE ILHAM AND MEHRIBAN DISCUSSED SUCCESSION INVOLVING THEIR SON HEYDAR? WHAT STEPS ARE ILHAM AND/OR MEHRIBAN DISCUSSING OR TAKING TO ENSURE SUCH A SUCCESSION? WHICH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS OR ALIYEV AND PASHAYEV FAMILY MEMBERS ARE PRIVY TO ANY SUCCESSION PLANS THAT MIGHT BE UNDER DISCUSSION? 3) (S) HAVE PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV AND/OR HIS WIFE MEHRIBAN SEIZED CONTROL OF ANY TOP OFFICIALS' ASSETS, PROPERTY, INVESTMENTS, OR COMPANIES? 4) (S) WHAT ARE THE RECENT POLITICAL ACTIVITIES OF MEHRIBAN ALIYEVA'S PASHAYEV CLAN, OR ILHAM ALIYEV'S DISTANT FAMILY IN AZERBAIJAN OR ABROAD? WHAT ARE THE MAJOR INVESTMENTS OF THE PASHAYEV OR ALIYEV FAMILIES? TO WHAT EXTENT DOES CLAN MEMBERSHIP REMAIN IMPORTANT IN THE ELITE NETWORK? WHAT BUSINESS INTERESTS HAVE OVERTAKEN CLAN RIVALRIES? 5) (S) WHAT ARE THE ROLES AND RELATIVE INFLUENCE OF THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS OF THE ALIYEV INNER CIRCLE: - CHIEF OF PRESIDENTIAL SECURITY BAYLAR EYYUBOV -ABDULBARI GOOZAL -ELSAD NASIROV -NOVRUZ MAMMADOV -JAHANGIR ASKEROV -ALI ASADOV -OQTAY ASADOV (U) 6) (S) WHO HAS JOINED OR LEFT ALIYEV'S INNER CIRCLE? ¶2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-RE9-02492 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS. CLINTON