Azerbaijani NGO Forum urges Trump and Musk to investigate USAID’s corruption activities A formal appeal

The Azerbaijan National NGO Forum has sent a formal appeal to U.S. President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, Head of the Department of Efficiency of U.S. Government Operations (DOGE), urging an investigation into corruption within the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). 

The Forum, which represents over 600 Azerbaijani NGOs, accuses USAID of misusing U.S. taxpayer money to promote a "shadow network" associated with the Biden-Blinken Administration and undermining Azerbaijan-U.S. relations, Caliber.Az reports, citing the appeal.

“We, the Azerbaijan National NGO Forum, as the flagship of Azerbaijani NGOs, would like to express our profound gratitude for the determination and strong will you have demonstrated in investigating and exposing the criminal activities of USAID in the global arena,” the letter begins, addressing both President Trump and Musk.

However, the appeal raises serious concerns about USAID’s activities in Azerbaijan, accusing the agency of fueling corruption through its use of U.S. taxpayer funds. “Unfortunately, over the past several years, U.S. taxpayer money has become the breeding ground for corruption through USAID, being used to form the shadow network of the Biden-Blinken Administration,” the Forum claims in its letter.

The NGO Forum highlights the growing public discontent in Azerbaijan over USAID’s projects, particularly during the Biden-Blinken era. “During the Biden-Blinken era, which marked the lost years in Azerbaijan-U.S. relations, calls for the expulsion and cessation of USAID's activities in the country have grown stronger, and public outrage has intensified.”

Furthermore, the Forum argues that USAID grants have caused damage to the country’s cultural integrity, claiming that some projects insult traditional, national, and moral values in Azerbaijan. “USAID grants, with their essence of insulting traditional, national, and moral values in Azerbaijan, have struck a blow to the image of the United States and its strategic interests in the region,” it asserts.

The letter also cites financial data to bolster its claims, noting that USAID has allocated over 410 million U.S. dollars to various projects in Azerbaijan since 1991. It also mentions that current U.S. grant projects involving Azerbaijan total 17 million dollars. “Publicly disclosed facts indicate that since 1991, USAID has spent over 410 million U.S. dollars on various projects in Azerbaijan under different names. New evidence shows that Azerbaijan is also mentioned in current U.S. grant projects, totalling 17 million dollars.”

In conclusion, the Azerbaijan National NGO Forum urges both leaders to act. “We hope that you will also look into USAID’s crimes in Azerbaijan and issue instructions for the auditing of the allocated grants.” The Forum’s board emphasizes the anticipation of the Azerbaijani public for the results of the investigation. “As an organization with over 600 member NGOs, we express that the Azerbaijani public eagerly awaits the results of such an investigation and the unmasking of grant intermediaries and fraudsters.”

By Vugar Khalilov