BAKU, Azerbaijan - A Baku court has extended the pretrial detention of businessman and former senior SOCAR executive Adnan Ahmadzada by another six months, bringing the authorized period to a maximum of 19 months.
The Sabail District Court granted a request from Azerbaijan’s State Security Service, which said investigators needed more time to gather evidence in a large and complex criminal case, Vesti Baku reported, citing Qafqazinfo.
Ahmadzada had already spent 13 months in custody. Investigators argued that the initial period was insufficient to complete the inquiry into what authorities classify as an especially serious criminal case.
The court found the request justified and extended his detention by six months. According to the report, 13 months is the standard maximum period of pretrial detention during an investigation into an especially serious crime, but it can be increased to 19 months in exceptional circumstances.
Ahmadzada is accused of acts intended to undermine economic security and of large-scale misappropriation. The allegations have not been adjudicated, and the extension is a pretrial measure rather than a determination of guilt.
Ahmadzada previously held senior positions at the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic, or SOCAR, including executive director of SOCAR Trading and deputy vice president for investments and marketing. He was detained by the State Security Service in September 2025.
Reuters reported at the time that a court had placed him in pretrial detention on suspicion of undermining state economic security and large-scale misappropriation.