View source for Rovshan Janiyev

{{Infobox criminal
| name           = Rovshan Janiyev
| image_size     = 
| birth_date     = {{birth date|1975|01|27|df=y}}
| birth_place    = [[Lankaran]], [[Azerbaijani SSR]], [[Soviet Union]]
| death_date     = {{death date and age|2016|8|18|1975|01|27|df=y}}
| death_place    = [[Istanbul]], [[Turkey]] 
| citizenship    = {{Flag|Russia}} <br> {{Flag|Azerbaijan}}
| occupation     = 
| spouse         = 
| children       = 
| image_name     =
| image_caption  = 
| conviction_penalty  = 
| charge         = 
| illegitimate children =  
| alias = Rovshan Lankaransky
}}

'''Rovshan Janiyev''' ({{lang-az|Rövşən Cəniyev}}, {{lang-ru|Ровшан Джаниев}}; 27 January 1975 – 18 August 2016), also known as '''Rovshan Lankaransky''' ({{lang-ru|Ровшан Ленкоранский}}), or '''Rovshan Aliyev''' ({{lang-az|Rövşən Əliyev}}, {{lang-ru|Ровшан Алиев}}), was an influential [[Azeri mafia|Azeri gangster]].

==Early life==
When Janiyev was 17 years old. His father was a policeman and murdered by local gangsters whom he was investigating. During the court hearing, upon hearing the accused threatening his family, Janiyev pulled out a gun and killed him in curia. He received two years in prison.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ru:Родственники Ровшана Ленкоранского вышли на СМИ, чтобы опровергнуть его смерть и причастность к убийству Деда Хасана|url=http://www.crimerussia.ru/criminalauthorities/59026-rodstvenniki-rovshana-lenkoranskogo-vyshli-na-smi-chtoby-oprovergnut-ego-smert-i-prichastnost-k-ubijstvu-deda-khasana.html|website=www.crimerussia.ru|accessdate=12 August 2014|language=Russian}}</ref>

==Criminal acts==
Later in 2000, he shot dead a prominent Baku crime boss in broad daylight and was subsequently beaten so severely that he developed a mental illness. Taking this into account, the court released him after just a few months imprisonment. Fearing for his life, Janiyev fled from [[Azerbaijan]] to [[Moscow]] where he grew more and more powerful within the underworld and eventually controlled all the ethnic [[Azerbaijani mafia|Azeri gangs]] in Moscow, running protection rackets and drug trafficking.<ref>[http://www.mk.ru/incident/crime/article/2013/01/16/798961-mor-v-zakone.html MK.RU- Мор в законе] ([[Russian language|Russian]])</ref>

Eventually competition over territory grew with the Caucasian gangs led by [[Aslan Usoyan]]. In 2010 an attempt was made on Usoyan's life and it has been theorized that Janiyev, who had been arrested trying to enter Ukraine shortly afterwards (where he already controlled some criminal business and had been previously granted refugee status), had a major part in its planning and execution.<ref>[http://kp.ua/daily/280910/245683/ Комсомольская правда - Вора в законе в третий раз потянуло на Украину] ([[Russian language|Russian]])</ref>

In January 2013, after Usoyan's assassination, Janiyev, along with [[Tariel Oniani]], was regarded as a primary suspect. Shortly afterwards Astamur Guliya, Abkhaz gangster and ally of Janiyev was gunned down in [[Sukhumi]].<ref>[http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/426544/20130122/astamur-guliya-killed-aslan-usoyan-mafia-russia.htm International Business Times - Russian Mafia Boss Astamur Guliya Killed in 'Retaliation' for Grandpa Khasan’s Murder]</ref> Janiyev himself was reported killed in [[Istanbul]] on 6 February, <ref>[http://www.vesti.ru/doc.html?id=1025290 Vesti.ru - Криминальный отстрел: в Турции убили главного врага Деда Хасана] ([[Russian language|Russian]])</ref> but this claim was denied by his brother Emil, who claimed he was alive and well in the [[United Arab Emirates]].<ref>[http://kp.ua/daily/070213/378642/ Комсомольская правда - Вор в законе Равшан Ленкоранский жив и сейчас отдыхает в Эмиратах?] ([[Russian language|Russian]])</ref>

In 2013, Italian law enforcement authorities declared Janiyev's presence in the country to [[Interpol]].<ref name=italia/> In a law enforcement report, Janiyev was accused of being engaged in organized crime, bribery, money laundering and forgery of documents.<ref name=italia>{{cite web|script-title=ru:Италия вновь объявила Ровшана Ленкоранского в международный розыск|url=http://haqqin.az/news/27301|website=haqqin.az|accessdate=12 August 2014|language=Russian}}</ref>

On August 17, 2016, Janiyev was assassinated in [[Istanbul]], Turkey, after returning from a trip to [[Dubai]]. Janiyev was shot in his luxury [[Range Rover]] car, which bore an Azerbaijani license plate, in the [[Beşiktaş]] district.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/istanbulda-infaz-edildi-unlu-mafya-babasi-cikti-40199775|title=İstanbul'da infaz edildi, ünlü mafya babası çıktı|access-date=2016-08-18}}</ref> Janiyev was transported to [[Şişli]] Etfal hospital and died of this wounds there. Janiyev's local driver was wounded but survived.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://yenicag.az/rovsen-lenkeranski-olmeyib-sagdir-aciqlama/|title=Rövşən Lənkəranski ölməyib, sağdır – Açıqlama|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> Janiyev's corpse was flown to Azerbaijan via a private plane belonging to Azeri billionaire [[Mübariz Mansimov]]. Reports emerged that more than 25,000 people came to mourn him at the airport.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sumerhaber.com/haber/2020/istanbulda-oldurulen-mafya-babasini-azerbaycanda-25-bin-kisi-karsiladi.html|title=İstanbul'da Öldürülen Mafya Babasını Azerbaycan'da 25 Bin Kişi Karşıladı|access-date=2016-08-22}}</ref> ''Yeni Musavat'' columnist Ilgar Kamil explained the phenomenon of glorifying Janiyev by the [[pratfall effect]] which would allow people to excuse Janiyev's criminal past because he had avenged his father "in due manner" as a teenager. Another reason, according to Kamil, is the tendency to subconsciously admire someone who does what others would like to but do not dare do.<ref>Ilgar Kamil. [http://musavat.com/news/gundem/xalq-ogrunu-voru-banditi-deyil-mehz-caniyevi-sevir-oxucu-yazir_372054.html Xalq ''oğru''nu, ''vor''u, ''bandit''i deyil, məhz Canıyevi sevir...- Oxucu yazır]. 20 August 2016.</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Janiyev, Rovshan}}
[[Category:1975 births]]
[[Category:2016 deaths]]
[[Category:Azerbaijani criminals]]
[[Category:Thieves in law]]
[[Category:Russian mobsters]]
[[Category:People from Lankaran]]