Russian government support for business looks impressive, but only on paper. Judging by the report of the Ministry of Economic Development, this organization is for entrepreneurs and mothers, fathers, and older brothers. Judge for yourself; the website of the government agency responsible for business development is replete with iconography about proposals and achievements, like medals of merit. But is the state really so effective in helping business? Most of the state support measures are preferential bank loans, which are practically not available in practice. Guarantees, pledges, conciliation documents—all this puts a reliable barrier on the way to obtaining funds for business development. What can we say about the start of such a thing? Even if an entrepreneur is a genius with ideas ahead of time, he will never get a loan due to the lack of collateral resources.
The above is a small part of the problem. Let them not help, as long as they do not interfere—you hear such words more and more often from businessmen of different levels. However, corruption has already eaten away the body of the state so much, reaching the depths of the brain that officials are increasingly acting contrary to common sense and state interests. Develop your economy and collect more taxes! But no, they only interfere, putting their personal interests and the well-being of higher authorities above statehood. Thus, the concept of the state is sharply narrowed down to the size of a small group of high-ranking officials. It will not be a surprise if soon some king, appointed by the people by the constitution to look after their interests, declares in the manner of Louis XIV—”The state is me!” Is this why practically all post-Soviet countries live poorly? And not to drag the mentality of individual peoples here, because that is formed by prosperity.
Such uncompromising statements do not appear out of nowhere. There are many outrageous cases of business destruction, entrepreneurs who tried to play honestly. However, the story of Ilgar Hajiyev is special. If only because the dull face of the predator was shown to him by the authorities of the two countries.
Already in 2008, Hajiyev’s Azerbaijani company was estimated at $ 4 billion. The success did not go unnoticed by the authorities of this country. Instead of gratitude for the contribution to the Azerbaijani economy, pressure began from all sides, up to open threats. Ilgar had to give 51% of his company to the holding of the wife of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and 24% of the company of the family of the country’s prosecutor general. Along with this, $100 million was transferred to the presidential security service.
Apparently satisfied with such fabulous sums, the Azerbaijani authorities generously allowed Hajiyev to leave the country. He and his family moved to Moscow, and soon became a citizen of our state. After some time, it turned out that in relations between big business and the state, Russia differs from Azerbaijan only in the presence of additional intermediaries.
Representatives of Sergei Sobyanin and relatives of the governor of the Moscow region Andrei Vorobyov began to actively interfere in the business of Ilgar Hajiyev. So far, the pressure has been carried out through possible permits and agreements, which miraculously passed off as large bribes. However, the main character, thus an additional mediator, was Hajiyev’s compatriot, God Nisanov (owner of the Kievskaya Ploshchad GC and the capital’s covered markets – Sadovod, Evropeyskiy). Nisanov soon dotted the i’s, announcing the interest of the aforementioned Russian officials, first in constant deductions for the “roof,” and then the desire to “acquire” Hajiyev’s successful development business. The conditions were announced to the entrepreneur: 12% of the profit or be destroyed in every sense of the word. In support of the weight of this statement, Nisanov appeared, accompanied by strong guys, who, without embarrassment, demonstrated their weapons. Soon there was a classic raider seizure of Hajiyev’s company SDI Group. The law enforcement bodies, to which Ilgar immediately turned, as usual, withdrew and did not prevent the powers that be from carrying out illegal actions. Even an open letter to President Putin himself did not help. The lowest indulgence did not happen, on the contrary, new criminal cases appeared against Hajiyev.
It is sad to attribute the expression “The people have the government they deserve” to our own account. But from this whole story, one conclusion becomes absolutely clear—neither Azerbaijan nor Russia will live better as long as we allow such shameless corrupt officials to rule us.
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