16:23 - 30.04.2024

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April 30, Fineko/abc.az. The death sentence of the famous Azerbaijani billionaire Babek Zanjani has been canceled in Iran.

ABC.AZ reports that the relevant statement was made at today’s (April 30) press conference in Tehran by the representative of the Iranian judicial system, Asker Jahangir.

According to Jahangir, the appeal of the Tehran Region Justice Department to ease the punishment of Babek Zanjani was approved by the chairman of the judicial system, Ghulamhusein Mohseni Ejei, with the consent of the supreme leader of Iran, Seyid Ali Khamenei.

Jahangir added that the death sentence against Zanjani had been changed to 20 years in prison.

Babek Zanjani from Zanjan province carried out secret trade in Iranian oil and gas under former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and had a large share in the black market. But Iranian government agencies say that Zanjani has not paid $2.8 bn in oil trading funds to the state bank. Zanjani, however, said his money was being held in frozen accounts in European banks because of sanctions.