Azerbaijan – a major purge ahead of the parliamentary election

Azerbaijan’s Ministry of National Security underwent a reshuffle between 17 and 24 October. Eldar Mahmudov, who had led the ministry for many years, and several senior officials were dismissed with immediate effect, and at least nine former employees (including four generals) were detained. According to official information, an organised criminal group involved in a protection racket and illegal takeovers of assets was allegedly operating at the ministry. The new minister is yet to be nominated. The function is currently being performed by the new deputy minister, Madat Quliyev, who took his post on 19 October and has been busy dismissing ministry workers since then.