In Baku, Azerbaijan, Trump tried to partner up with Anar Mammadov, whose father is an Azerbaijani government minister “suspected by U.S. diplomats of laundering money for Iran’s military and described as ‘notoriously corrupt,'” according to the Associated Press.
Trump announced the project in January of 2015, but since then, the AP reports that all “references to the Baku project have disappeared from Trump’s website.”
Does Trump’s apparent eagerness to distance himself from the project have anything to do with the report that his Azerbaijani associate’s father is “presumed to be a silent partner to a former senior Iranian general and reputed money launderer, Kamal Darvishi”?
Background:
2015: TRUMP’S AZERBAIJANI BUSINESS PARTNER WAS THE SON OF AND RUMORED FRONTMAN OF A SUSPECTED MONEY LAUNDERER
Trump Partnered With Anar Mammadov, Son Of Transportation Minister Ziya Mammadov, For An Azerbaijan Real Estate Project
2015: Trump Announced Real Estate Project In Baku, Azerbaijan. According to The Associated Press, “Six months before he entered the presidential race, Donald Trump announced a new real estate project in Baku, Azerbaijan. His partner was the son of a government minister suspected by U.S. diplomats of laundering money for Iran’s military and described as ‘notoriously corrupt.’” [Associated Press, 6/3/16]
For Azerbaijan Project, Trump Partner With Anar Mammadov, Son Of Transportation Minister Ziya Mammadov. According to The Associated Press, “Trump’s choice of partners in Baku was Anar Mammadov, the son of the country’s transportation minister. Anar Mammadov did not respond to AP’s emails or messages sent to his social media accounts or messages left with his company.” [Associated Press, 6/3/16]
Ziya Mammadov Was “Notoriously Corrupt” And Suspected Of Money Laundering For The Iranian Military
2009: U.S. Diplomatic Cables Described Ziya Mammadov As “Notoriously Corrupt, Even For Azerbaijan,” And Suspected Him On Laundering Money For The Iranian Military.According to The Associated Press, “Six months before he entered the presidential race, Donald Trump announced a new real estate project in Baku, Azerbaijan. His partner was the son of a government minister suspected by U.S. diplomats of laundering money for Iran’s military and described as ‘notoriously corrupt.’ […] Ziya Mammadov was described in March 2009 in leaked U.S. diplomatic cables as ‘notoriously corrupt, even for Azerbaijan’ and accused of working closely on government highway construction contracts awarded to a former senior Iranian military official in the Republican Guard, Kamal Darvishi. ‘We assume Mammadov is a silent partner in these contracts,’ the State Department cable said.” [Associated Press, 6/3/16]
Trump’s Business Partner Anar Mammadov Was Widely Viewed As A Mere Stand-In For The Business Interests Of His Corrupt Father
Diplomats And NGO Viewed Anar Mammadov “As A Transparent Stand-In For The Business Interests Of His Father,” Ziya Mammadov. According to The Associated Press, “Garten said the Trump Organization had performed background screening on all those involved in the deal and was confident Mammadov’s father played no role in the project. Experts on Azerbaijan were mystified that Trump or anyone else could reach that conclusion. Anar Mammadov is widely viewed by diplomats and nongovernmental organizations as a transparent stand-in for the business interests of his father. Anar’s business has boomed with regular help from his father’s ministry, receiving exclusive government contracts, a near monopoly on Baku’s taxi business and even a free fleet of autobuses.” [Associated Press, 6/3/16]
Published: Jun 22, 2016