Day: September 23, 2025

Mixing of Azeri and Russian oil to avoid sanctions – Google Search  google.com/search?q=Mixing+o…
Reports suggest that Russian crude oil is being transported, processed, and exported via Azerbaijan to circumvent international sanctions. European countries have purchased fuel products from Azerbaijani refineries, though the raw material was primarily Russian crude. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
The process of Russian oil blending and rebranding

Russian oil imports to Azerbaijan: Since Western nations, including the UK and EU, imposed sanctions on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine, Azerbaijan has significantly increased its import of Russian crude oil.
Refining in Turkey: The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) refines Russian crude at its STAR refinery in Turkey. The refinery was built with the capacity to process different types of oil, including Russia’s Urals crude.
Mixing and rebranding: Once refined, the oil products are mixed with Azerbaijani crude. By transforming Russian crude into new products, its origin is obscured. The refined fuel is then exported from Turkey to international markets, including the European Union.
Tanker transport: The Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO) is reportedly involved in transporting Russian crude via its tankers to the STAR refinery. The UK sanctioned an ASCO-owned tanker, the Zangezur, in May 2025 for its role in the “shadow” delivery of Russian oil. [1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]

International response and ongoing challenges

UK and EU sanctions: In September 2025, the EU confirmed that the STAR refinery would be subject to sanctions under its 18th sanctions package. The UK has also targeted Azerbaijani entities, including the oil trading company Coral Energy Group, over ties to Russia’s oil trade. In June 2025, the EU announced a proposal to ban imports of refined products made from Russian crude in third countries, which is intended to close this specific sanctions loophole.
Market impact: Despite these measures, enforcement has been challenging. The use of a “shadow fleet” of tankers operating outside of normal regulations continues to facilitate the trade.
Azerbaijan’s position: Critics accuse Azerbaijan of conducting a geopolitical “balancing act”—maintaining its status as a Western energy partner while enabling Russia’s shadow oil trade for profit. European countries that rely on Azerbaijani oil are placed in a complex and diplomatically delicate position. [2, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12]

AI responses may include mistakes.

[1]  oc-media.org/eu-sanctions-qu…
[2]  armenianweekly.com/2024/10/0…
[3]  business-humanrights.org/my/…
[4]  crudeaccountability.org/bala…
[5]  jam-news.net/shadow-russian-…
[6]  facebook.com/armeniannationa…
[7]  report.az/en/energy/azerbaij…
[8]  interfax.com/newsroom/top-st…
[9]  eurasianet.org/azerbaijans-s…
[10]  reuters.com/sustainability/c…
[11]  bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
[12]  spglobal.com/commodity-insig…

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Sep 23, 2025