Azerbaijan’s oil company SOCAR and Russia’s Lukoil have signed an agreement to process Russian crude oil at SOCAR’s STAR refinery in Turkey. The refined products are then exported to foreign countries, despite sanctions aimed at curtailing Russian oil trade.

In addition to SOCAR, the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO) plays a crucial role in transporting Russian crude to the STAR refinery. ASCO’s vessels, including Aframax tankers, carry oil from Russia’s Primorsk port to the terminal in Turkey, where it is processed at the STAR refinery.

In May 2025, the UK government extended its sanctions to Zangezur, an oil tanker owned by ASCO.

Business and Human Rights Resource Centre invited SOCAR and ASCO to respond. Neither of the companies replied.