Shahin Sultanov
Azerbaijani military officer
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Vice Admiral Shahin Sultanov (Azerbaijani: Şahin Əşrəf oğlu Sultanov) was the Commander of the Azerbaijani Naval Forces from 1999 to 2014.
Ilham Aliyev
Shahin Sultanov Şahin Sultanov | |
|---|---|
| Commander of the Azerbaijani Navy | |
| In office 1999 – 11 March 2014 | |
| President | Heydar Aliyev Ilham Aliyev |
| Preceded by | Fuad Yusifov |
| Succeeded by | Yunus Mammadov (Acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 8, 1959 |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  Azerbaijani Navy |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
Early life and career
He was born on 8 August 1961 in the Goychay District of the Azerbaijan SSR. Sultanov graduated from the Navigation Department of the Caspian Higher Naval School named after Sergei Kirov.
He was appointed the Commander of Azerbaijani Naval Forces in 1999.[1] Sultanov's rank was raised to Counter Admiral on January 19, 2002,[2] and Vice Admiral on June 24, 2005.[3] He was awarded the Veten Ughrunda Medal (In the Name of Motherland) on June 24, 2003;[4] Azerbaijani Flag Order on June 22, 2006;[5] and Herbi Xidmlete Gore Medal on June 24, 2010.[6]
As the commander of navy, he modernized the Azerbaijani Navy's capabilities and established close contacts with the Turkish Navy and Pakistan Navy.[7][8]
Arrest
Sultanov was arrested on 24 April 2014[9] on charges of official forgery, theft and embezzlement and as a preventive measure placed under house arrest.[10] A military court in the Nəsimi raion sentenced him to eight years and six months in prison[11] with a probationary period of three years.[12] According to his lawyer, the court's decision to move Sultanov’s was based in his merit’s in the military.[13]
