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Leader of Azerbaijani diaspora in Smolensk sentenced to four years in prison

Faig Aliyev, leader of the Azerbaijani National Congress and an Azerbaijani-born businessman

17 October 2025 11:35 (UTC +04:00)

Faig Aliyev, leader of the Azerbaijani National Congress and an Azerbaijani-born businessman, has been sentenced to four years in prison and fined 8.4 million rubles on bribery charges in Russia’s Smolensk region, APA’s Russia bureau reports.

The Leninsky District Court of Smolensk found that Aliyev bribed energy officials to conceal the actual electricity expenses of the “Prestige” restaurant-hotel complex. The court established that the bribe amounted to 846,500 rubles, while electricity debts totaled 994,000 rubles. The crime occurred between March 13, 2020, and December 6, 2024.

Aliyev’s defense team intends to appeal the ruling to the Smolensk Regional Court. In addition to his lawyers, public defenders, including Yelena Ulyanenkova, Chair of the Interethnic and Interfaith Relations Commission of the Smolensk Regional Public Chamber, will also participate.

“I have worked with him in public activities for 28 years and know him as an honest and decent person who has helped countless people. In 2014, he assisted refugees. There are thousands of examples of his selfless help to those in need. He donated approximately 3 million rubles to the special military operation. Members of the National Congress, which includes 28 public organizations, are requesting a lenient sentence for Faig Zakirovich,” Ulyanenkova said.