Bribery and corruption in telecommunications – The Republic of Azerbaijan
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the nature and extent of corruption in the telecommunications sector in Azerbaijan and the associated issues of governance.
Design/methodology/approach
A case study examining a wide range of sources on Azerbaijan.
Findings
Unusually, perhaps uniquely, ownership of major operators has been concealed. Nonetheless, the presidential family controls one of three mobile operators and has a stake in a second.
Research limitations/implications
A law from 2012 conceals the beneficial ownership of some operators, others merely use offshore registries.
Originality/value
One of only half a dozen case studies on corruption in telecommunications. It is very unusual in the extent to which ownership of operators is hidden.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge Khadija Ismayilova whose work for RFE/RL identified the holding companies used by the presidential family and Svetoslav Tintchev (formerly of the World Bank) for helpful discussions of corruption and the reform of telecommunication markets.
Citation
Sutherland, E. (2015), "Bribery and corruption in telecommunications – The Republic of Azerbaijan", info, Vol. 17 No. 5, pp. 20-45. https://doi.org/10.1108/info-04-2015-0022
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited