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Journalist Khadija Ismayilova’s investigation published on the website of the Centre for the study of corruption and organized crime (OCCRP), describes the business interests of the wife and the son ofthe head of the department of social and political issues of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Ali Hasanov.

The article states that Hasanov’s wife, business woman Sona Veliyeva, manages the newspaper "Caspian", is a member of the National Television and Radio Council (NTRC), and also owns and manages several enterprises.

"Veliyeva and her family get big profits from the companies that they own. This caused a conflict of interest which has not been considered by the Government of Azerbaijan," the article states.

According to the investigation, Hasanov’s son, Shamhal Hasanli, among other things, is engaged in the production of soap operas. The author notes that the NTRC has banned broadcasting of foreign TV soap operas. The “Kaspi Global” company headed by Hasanli has created three national soap operas, and one of them has been created at the expense of the state budget.

The entertainments are not the only business area for Hasanly thriving through family ties, writes Ismailova. In April 2011, the National Council of Radio and Television allocated frequencies for "Araz FM” which is a radio related to Hasanov’s family. Frequency 103,3 FM formerly belonged to Azerbaijani BBC Service, it was banned (apparently for political reasons) in 2009. Hasanov said then that the state law prohibits the foreign organizations to broadcast in Azerbaijan.

“Araz FM” belongs to a man named Etiram Karimov and a company called "Teleradio Araz", which, in its turn, is a part of “Golden Prince” LLC. Organization “Golden Prince” was established in 2008 by an Iranian citizen Cyrus Guchhani and a citizen of Azerbaijan Azer Veliyev. Veliyev reportedly is a relative to Sona Veliyeva and is her business partner, as it is written in the article.

In 2010, when FM Araz received a license, Rasul Jafarov who rivaled with the RadioTV "Araz" for obtaining a license, raised the question of foreign ownership. In 2010 Jafarov tried to get a license for his project an "Alternative Radio," but he was refused. However, Araz FM was granted a license for a period of six years from the NRTC. Jafarov filed a legal complaint and announced about a "political discrimination." The case is in the European Court of Human Rights, reads the article.

Broadcasting Company "Araz" is registered by the same address as all other companies associated with Hasanov’s family. The opening ceremony of one of the "Araz FM” studios which was held in one of the malls, Shamhal Hasanli was introduced as CEO of the radio station.

The only press club in Baku, which can accommodate more than 30 people, is also associated with Hasanov family, the article reads.
Ismailova notes that the International Press Center has begun operating in 2003 at the same address where all the Hasanov family enterprises are registered. After that, two independent press clubs were closed because of financial problems and because of the fact that they refused to renew the lease.

Another area of interest for this family is education. They are connected with the fact that the government shuts the competing schools pertaining to Fetullaha Gulen movement, the article reads.

According to the research, the preparatory courses for students at the educational center "Caspian" administered by Sona Veliyeva, having several branches across the capital, lag far behind Gulen schools in popularity. Critics predict that the movement against Gulen in Azerbaijan can only increase the popularity of the educational center "Caspian."

In general, the list of family businesses belonging to Ali Hasanov and compiled by Kh. Ismailova include 12 companies.