In the modern history of Azerbaijani statehood, the fight against corruption and nepotism, and the ensuring of the rule of law, have not merely been legal processes, but have also entered a phase of fundamental social transformation.
Today, at the heart of the reforms being implemented in the country lies the principle "No one is untouchable." This principle shatters a number of negative stereotypes that have sometimes formed in state administration — the illusion of a privileged group of individuals, untouchable relatives, and legal immunity arising from official status.
Recent large-scale operations carried out within the State Customs Committee (SCC) once again demonstrated the state's resolve in this area. As a result of operations conducted by the Main Department for Combating Corruption under the Prosecutor General, cases of large-scale cigarette smuggling and abuse of official powers were exposed.
The most striking aspect of these operations is the status of the arrested individuals and their kinship ties with high-ranking officials. The arrest of individuals such as Farid Usubov, an official of the State Customs Committee, businessman Ruslan Eyyubov, and Rashad Dashdamirov, head of the Baku-Hovsan International Commercial Seaport, sends a clear message to society: Everyone is equal before the law. Being a close relative of high-ranking generals or influential statesmen does not grant anyone the privilege to commit illegal acts or evade responsibility.
In Azerbaijani society, the tendency of some individuals to consider themselves above the law, to seek untouchability by saying "I am so-and-so" or "I am a relative of so-and-so," is met with a strong reaction from the state. In the modern state model, the "influential relative" factor no longer serves as a legal shield. On the contrary, illegal acts committed by relatives of high-ranking officials incur greater public responsibility and are punished most severely within the framework of the law.
Head of State Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly addressed this issue and issued warnings to the official apparatus. The words spoken by the head of state on March 5, 2020, during the reception of the new executive heads appointed to Ismayilli and Neftchala districts, remain relevant today.
“No one can be above the law. If someone considers themselves superior to society, and tarnishes the state's policy with their arrogance and illegal actions, they will certainly be held accountable before the law.
The head of state, who considers the interests of his people and state as a priority of his activities, once again delivered an important message on this topic on November 12, 2025, when receiving the President's authorized representative in Nakhchivan and the heads appointed to the executive authorities of several districts.
“Every person working in a leadership position, every official, must be humble. First and foremost, serving the people and being with the people should be their main working principle."
President Ilham Aliyev had touched upon cases of patronage in another speech.
"If someone relies on acquaintances, relatives, or friends in office, they are on the wrong path. They will be punished themselves, and those who patronize them will also be punished. There will be no concessions to anyone."
These quotes demonstrate that at the state level, arrogance, looking down on citizens, and privilege are morally unacceptable and legally a dangerous path.
The recent operations at customs and the arrest of relatives of high-ranking officials mark a new stage in Azerbaijan's legal development. This is a lesson for everyone who believes they possess "immunity" and tries to adapt the law to their own interests. In the country, the law is above all else, and every individual bears personal responsibility before the law for their actions.
Society's trust in the state is strengthened precisely by such fair and resolute steps. The principle "No one is untouchable" is the unshakeable foundation of Azerbaijan's future development, social justice, and state-citizen relations.
