The High Court has today upheld a freezing order against sitting Azerbaijani MP Javanshir Feyziyev’s London property portfolio worth over £50 million. The National Crime Agency suspects the property was bought using dirty money from the Azerbaijani Laundromat.

Commenting on today's judgment, Steve Goodrich, Head of Research and Investigations at Transparency International UK said:

"We welcome this important judgment, which confirms the National Crime Agency has a good arguable case that Javanshir Feyziyev's UK properties are or include recoverable property. The NCA suspects these properties were obtained with the proceeds of crime and now has the opportunity to prove it.

"This is a significant development for investigations into the multi-billion dollar Azerbaijani Laundromat money laundering operation, first reported by OCCRP back in 2017.

"Given the clampdown on civil society and independent media in states like Azerbaijan, it's all the more important that any suspected proceeds of crime and corruption entering the UK are pursued as far as possible. The government should ensure law enforcement agencies have the resources needed to properly investigate economic crime and end the UK's role as a safe haven for dirty money."

ENDS