A London-based cousin of Azerbaijan’s leader has been arrested during a raid on a party in Greece, where she was performing as a DJ and was allegedly found with a hoard of drugs and cash.
Izzat Javadova, who a police source claimed organised the party, was reportedly ‘found in a bedroom’ with 45 packages of cocaine, ecstasy and crystal meth, and a safe containing over 43,000 euros ($45,000).
The 44-year-old, who is known as DJ Mikaela Jav, told Greek TV station ERT that she ‘did not organise the party’ and ‘did not send online invitations,’ and also insisted that police ‘did not find drugs on me.’
She described the event as a ‘a tekno Berlin kinky party dedicated to love and music’ and claimed the accusations were ‘an attack on LGBTQ people’ which aimed to portray partygoers as drug users.
The British-Azeri DJ was among 13 people arrested at the luxury villa in the town of Kalyvia, around 20 miles south of Athens on December 30, and has since been detained on charges of aggravated drug trafficking.
Three off-duty police officers providing security for the event, who were also arrested, have also been arrested but have not so far been charged as the investigation is ongoing, according to reports.
Javadova, who has a British passport, is the cousin of President Ilham Aliyev, the autocratic ruler of major oil and gas producer Azerbaijan.
The millionaire DJ’s late father Jalal was the brother of Aliyev’s father and presidential predecessor Heydar, as well as an oligarch and MP in the country.
Izzat Javadova was performing as a DJ and was allegedly found with a hoard of drugs and cash at the party
The 44-year-old, who is known as DJ Mikaela Jav, denied organising the party
Greek police released a video of the raid on the upmarket villa which showed powder on tables
Greece’s Hellenic Police shared footage of packets of pills and DJ decks at the party
The British-Azeri DJ was among 13 people arrested at the luxury villa in the town of Kalyvia, around 20 miles south of Athens on December 30
Greek police released a video of the raid on the upmarket villa which showed packets of pills and powder on tables, as well as stacks of euros and DJ decks.
The owner of the luxury villa claimed that Javadova provided the €1,000 security deposit for the property and that it suffered significant damage, The Times reports.
Testimony from people who attended the event suggested it was a lavish, drug-fuelled party, with invitations circulated through social media and personal connections.
Several defendants have reportedly admitted possessing drugs for personal use, but have denied drug trafficking.
Known for her party lifestyle, Javadova says on her professional profile that she moved to the UK at a young age and went on to set up a promotions firm called Love The Underground Records.
She lives in a £4 million flat in Whitehall and is reported to own a £5 million townhouse overlooking the river in Richmond-upon-Thames.
The socialite has also been described her as a regular on Balearic party island Ibiza, where she is understood to own a beachside villa.
She and her husband Suleyman Javadov attracted scandal after being accused of benefitting from a network of 20 shell companies largely based offshore in a £2.1 billion money-laundering scheme nicknamed the ‘Azerbaijani laundromat’.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, whose father Heydar was the brother of Javadova
Javadova says on her professional profile that she moved to the UK at a young age and went on to set up a promotions firm called Love The Underground Records
Pictured: Suleyman Javadov (left) sitting next to Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan
The millionaire DJ and her husband Suleyman Javadov were previously ordered to forfeit £4million after legal action by the National Crime Agency in a money laundering probe
The Javadovs had argued their money came from a legitimate property empire and investments in ‘the leading vodka, cognac and champagne factory in Azerbaijan’.
They had argued for nearly two years to fight the case in secrecy, with lawyers arguing that revealing their names would damage their reputations.
Their solicitors said at the time: ‘Our clients have legitimate business dealings and trusted that their money transfers were dealt with by the banks in accordance with the law.’
The pair made a deal in 2021 to surrender £4 million deemed to be the illegal proceeds of an Azerbaijani money laundering scheme.
The agreement to hand over the money did not amount to an admission or finding of liability or wrongdoing against the couple.
The NCA investigation involved cooperation from law enforcement partners in a number of countries including Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Latvia and Spain.
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