13 October 2020, Baku: The Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan, together with the relevant agencies, constantly focuses on measures to combat illegal financial and banking operations in the occupied territories of the country as part of its consistent activities to ensure sound financial intermediation. In this regard, serious measures were taken against the facts revealed at different times, and appeals were made to the opposite parties to immediately stop illegal operations. Financial institutions involved in the illegal transactions mentioned in these appeals have been warned that the business relations of local financial institutions with organizations operating illegally in our occupied territories will be suspended. As a result of the measures taken, these illegal operations were prevented.

These measures are especially relevant in the current sensitive period when our National Army conducts counter-offensive operations against the large-scale provocations of the Armenian occupying forces and liberates our lands from the occupiers. In the conditions of convincing victories of our brave army over the enemy and the depletion of the resources of the opposing side, the enemy forces are trying to raise funds for illegal activities from around the world.

During the monitorings carried out by the Central Bank of Azerbaijan in this regard, the fact of participation of Sberbank of Russian Federation in the process of fundraising for the so-called "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic", founded by separatism in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, which was not recognized and accepted by the world community. It was established that the assistance is provided through correspondent accounts at Sberbank in various currencies under the names "Donation We and our borders", “Финансовая помощь Мы и наши границы”, “Арцах” or "Artsakh".

In this regard, the Central Bank of Azerbaijan immediately sent a letter of strong protest to both the Central Bank of Russian Federation and Sberbank. Taking into account the importance of cooperation between our countries and institutions, the Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan, guided by the norms of international law, categorically objected to Sberbank's participation in the process of fundraising to finance the aggressor.

Given the negative impact of transactions conducted with accounts opened in the Sberbank on the processes going in the occupied territories, the Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan informed the other party that this is against the interests of the Republic of Azerbaijan and required immediate suspension of the participation of Sberbank, as well as other financial institutions operating in the Russian Federation, in the fundraising process.

The letter emphasizes that participation in the process of assisting a regime operating illegally in the territory of a third party at such a sensitive time, will seriously damage the image of such an influential bank as Sberbank as well as positive cooperation between our countries. Since the implementation of any economic activity in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan without the consent of the Government of Azerbaijan contradicts the norms of international law and the legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

We would like to inform the population that in addition to the above, the enemy is also using all means to commit other provocations inside the country as it is defeated in the battlefield by our Glorious Army under the leadership of President of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev. Thus, in order to confuse the customers of our local banks, fake messages and e-mails are sent to them on behalf of the banks. It should be noted that the relevant authorities of the country, including the financial and banking system, are currently taking serious countermeasures against these provocations and prevent them.

The Central Bank of Azerbaijan will further continue to take adequate measures to ensure reliable financial intermediation within its powers, as well as to prevent any illegal activity in our occupied territories.