Russia Seizes Azerbaijani Businessman's Assets at Tuapse Port

Shahlar Novruzov

A court in Russia's Krasnodar Territory sided with the General Prosecutor's Office to nationalize assets belonging to Azerbaijani businessman Shahlar Novruzov, shifting them to state hands. This action zeroes in on the Tuapse Sea Commercial Port's (TSCP) key infrastructure.

What's Been Seized and Why

The government now controls 100% of Tuapse Sea Commercial Port LLC (TSCP) and TSCP Enterprise LLC, as well as the Temryuk sea loading terminal and Dar Frut LLC's properties. TSCP is known for processing containerized fruit and vegetable imports, many coming from Turkey.

Novruzov's legal trouble began with his arrest in early September, accused of attempted large-scale fraud. Investigators say he and others tried to illegally take state-owned real estate worth over 900 million rubles (about $11.25 million) using fake documents.

Security Concerns

Prosecutors argued that a string of illegal deals dating back to 1994 moved important port assets, like a pier and buildings, from state to private ownership. The General Prosecutor's Office claimed that getting these assets back was needed for Russia's security. The court agreed, invalidating the deals and clearing the way for nationalization.

Besides Novruzov, others involved in the case include Oleg Basin (a manager at Inzhtransstroy) and Vonixel Limited, a British Virgin Islands-registered company.

Novruzov also had business interests in the Krasnodar region, including the Köhnə Bakı restaurant and the Podgornı agricultural cooperative. He previously headed Kubanprodukt LLC, now run by his brother Ramin Novruzov. His businesses reportedly generated around 279 million rubles ($3.5 million) in revenue in 2024.