U.S. Indicts Swiss Lawyer and Implicates Azerbaijan Leaders in Bribes

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Saturday, November 1, 2003
Author: 
Bruce Zagaris
Volume: 
19
Issue: 
11
436
Abstract: 
In September, 2003, a U.S. grand jury indicted Swiss lawyer Hans Bodmer on charges that he bribed four senior Azeri officials in their planned privatization of Azerbaijan?s state-run oil company, SOCAR. The privatization never occurred, leaving investors who had bought millions of dollars worth of vouchers out of pocket. The indictment included Azeri president Haydar Aliyev, which opposition leaders are using to increase the electoral chances of their presidential candidates. The indictment has led President Bush to downplay his relationship with the leader of the oil-producing state, and has many other policy implications.