A member of the Security Council and former head of the Presidential Administration, Ramiz Mehdiyev’s actions aimed at seizing state power and details of his treason against the state have been revealed.
APA has learned through reliable sources that Ramiz Mehdiyev, with the support of Russia, prepared a plan for a coup d’état and proposed it to Russia through his own channels.
When did Ramiz Mehdiyev take action?
Ramiz Mehdiyev tried to take advantage of the period of tension between Azerbaijan and Russia. It should be recalled that on December 25 last year, after the AZAL aircraft was shot down in Russian airspace, serious tensions arose in Azerbaijan–Russia relations. Russia’s refusal to apologize or pay compensation for the downing of the AZAL plane caused sharp protests in official Baku. The tensions between the two countries became a topic of broad discussion and criticism in both the public and media spheres.
Mehdiyev used this situation to convey to Russia, through his channels and old friends, that a plan for a coup d’état had been prepared and that he expected Moscow’s support in this matter.
It is worth noting that when Azerbaijan–Russia relations were at their peak of tension—on May 9 of this year—the chairman of the Council of Elders of the Imishli District, Saleh Samadov, organized an event under the flag of the USSR, wearing the “St. George Ribbon,” a symbol of the Russian Empire. For this act, he was dismissed from his post and arrested by the State Security Service. Saleh Samadov is known as one of Ramiz Mehdiyev’s old friends and business partners.
What was Ramiz Mehdiyev’s plan?
According to the plan, after seizing state power by force, Ramiz Mehdiyev proposed to establish a temporary governing body in the format of a State Council for the transition period. The plan envisaged that the 87-year-old former bureaucrat himself would lead this body. Reportedly, Mehdiyev even shared with Russia the list of individuals who would be represented in the State Council under his leadership.
How was Ramiz Mehdiyev’s plan exposed?
According to a well-informed source who spoke to APA, during the meeting between the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia in Dushanbe, the Russian side itself informed the Azerbaijani side about Mehdiyev’s proposal and his network’s plan.
It appears that the 87-year-old Mehdiyev had already exhausted Russia’s patience with his persistent requests and insistence. Consequently, Russia completely abandoned him—seeing no prospects—and officially informed Baku about Mehdiyev’s plan and network.
Ramiz Mehdiyev – Russia’s old friend
Ramiz Mehdiyev’s closeness to Russia has always been known. Even during the Soviet era, he was known as a member of Moscow’s agent network. For many years, Mehdiyev used his influence in the Azerbaijani government to help “friends of Russia”—officials loyal to Moscow—advance in government, parliament, and media positions.
Before the Patriotic War, pro-Russian officials were removed from their positions in Azerbaijan, and Mehdiyev was also dismissed from his post.
Afterward, when he became President of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), Mehdiyev did not abandon intrigues. He used the Academy for his political purposes, creating an unbearable environment there; nearly all institutes under ANAS demanded his resignation. At a meeting held at ANAS on February 14, 2022, he announced that he was leaving his post due to his age and would appeal to the head of state, Ilham Aliyev, on this issue. On February 19, the General Meeting of ANAS was held, and Ramiz Mehdiyev's resignation was accepted.
However, on March 17, reports emerged that Mehdiyev was still at the Academy. ANAS issued a statement saying he had come only to collect his personal belongings. Later, it was revealed that he had actually held a meeting in the Academy President’s office with representatives from Russia—including the assistant to the President of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
During the summer, media outlets reported that Ramiz Mehdiyev held a meeting with a group of former officials in Novkhani. Although the content of the meeting was unknown, the timing coincided with the height of tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan.
Note that there is a criminal case concerning legal violations committed during Mehdiyev’s presidency at ANAS. The Chamber of Accounts' inspections covering 2020–2023 revealed numerous irregularities and illegalities within ANAS.
Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev stated to journalists on October 1 of this year that a comprehensive investigation was being conducted into the legal violations at ANAS.
“In that criminal case, investigations have been carried out into several episodes, and the preliminary investigation into some of them has already been completed. The cases have been sent to court for consideration,” the Prosecutor General emphasized.
Ramiz Mehdiyev’s family and wealth
One of the scandals involving Ramiz Mehdiyev that circulated in the media was the wedding of his daughter, Fidan Aliyeva, held at the summer house of his son-in-law, former MP Ilham Aliyev, in the Novkhani settlement. On August 18, 2020—during a period when a strict quarantine regime was in effect in the country—a ceremony attended by more than 100 guests was discovered at Mehdiyev’s villa. Following this incident, his son-in-law Ilham Aliyev was administratively detained.
According to media reports, the Mehdiyev family owns hundreds of hectares of land, numerous real estate properties, and shares in banks and major companies. Ramiz Mehdiyev’s daughter, Kamila Aliyeva, recently lost a legal battle in the Supreme Court over a 1/2 ownership share in the “Baku Oxford School.”
A court case has also been filed against Mehdiyev’s wife, Galina Yuryevna Mehdiyeva
The person who filed a lawsuit against Galina Yuryevna Mehdiyeva is Elmar Chingiz oglu Saidov, the legal representative of “Fireland Vineyards” LLC.
Ramiz Mehdiyev’s family—namely his wife, Galina Mehdiyeva, and his son, Timur Mehdiyev—have been the cause of his massive indebtedness.
By the way, in the Novkhani settlement alone, the Mehdiyev family owned 155 hectares of land.
According to official data released by the Ministry of Agriculture for the years 2015–2018, there were only two farming enterprises in Novkhani that received subsidies. One belonged to Galina Yuryevna Mehdiyeva, and the other to Timur Ramiz oglu Mehdiyev.
According to data released in 2017, Galina Yuryevna Mehdiyeva received 5,650 manats in subsidies for her 113-hectare land, while Timur Ramiz oglu Mehdiyev received 2,100 manats in subsidies for his 42-hectare land.
The “Bank BTB” OJSC also belongs to the Mehdiyev family. Specifically, 74.98% (49,829 shares) of the bank’s stock is owned by Nigar Ismayil qizi Mehdiyeva — Ramiz Mehdiyev’s daughter-in-law.
Ramiz Mehdiyev may be stripped of state awards
At present, Ramiz Mehdiyev is charged under Articles 278.1 (acts aimed at seizing state power), 274 (high treason), and 193-1.3.2 (legalization of property obtained by criminal means) of the Criminal Code.
These charges raise the possibility that he may be stripped of his status as a member of the Security Council, as well as of his honorary titles and state awards.
Ramiz Mehdiyev has been awarded the Istiglal (Independence), Shohrat (Glory) Order, Sharaf (Honor), and Heydar Aliyev Orders of the Republic of Azerbaijan. He is also a full member of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), a State Counselor of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and a member of the YAP Veterans Council.
Chairman of the YAP Veterans Council, Arif Rahimzade, told APA that Ramiz Mehdiyev would be expelled from the party.
President of ANAS, Isa Habibbayli, hung up the phone when asked by the agency about this issue.
Lawyer Shamil Pashayev told APA that Mehdiyev is accused of committing particularly serious crimes: "Given that Ramiz Mehdiyev is accused of committing especially serious crimes, the court may determine the necessity of depriving him of his honorary titles and state awards. Thus, when a person convicted of a particularly serious crime is sentenced, the court, taking into account the nature, and degree of public danger of the crime, the personality of the accused, and other circumstances of the case, when it comes to the conclusion that it is necessary to deprive him of a special or military rank, honorary title and state award, makes a decision to send a submission to the President for consideration of depriving him of titles and awards granted by the President’s order.”
Shamil Pashayev stated that regarding deprivation of special or military ranks, or awards granted by other state bodies, the court itself makes the decision.
Criminal case and charges against Ramiz Mehdiyev
Note that Ramiz Mehdiyev is charged under Articles 278.1 (acts aimed at seizing state power), 274 (high treason), and 193-1.3.2 (legalization of property obtained by criminal means) of the Criminal Code.
On October 14 of this year, the Sabail District Court of Baku made a ruling regarding Ramiz Anvar oglu Mehdiyev in connection with the criminal case.
According to the decision, the court granted the motion regarding Mehdiyev, who is accused of particularly serious crimes, and chose house arrest for a period of 4 months as a preventive measure.
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