New trials in the "Terter case". Who are the accused?

Baku/23.02.23/Turan: After the investigation was updated in December 2021, the investigation of the cases brought to criminal responsibility in the "Terter case" (accused of torture) was completed and sent to court. In early February, the investigation into the case of the four accused completed, and the investigation materials were sent to the Baku Military Court. The defendants are Colonels Vusal Aleskerov, Rashid Niftaliev, Rustam Aleskerov, and Ramil Garayev. On February 21, it became known about the completion of the investigation against Major General Bekir Orujev, accused of torture in the "Terter case". The case of Bekir Orujev, acting head of the Department for Ideological Work and Moral and Psychological Support of the Ministry of Defense of the Ministry of Defense, will be heard in the Baku Military Court.

After updating the proceedings in the "Terter case", the investigation continues with respect to other persons brought to criminal responsibility for torture.

It should be noted that in December 2021, after the resumption of the investigation in the "Terter case", the number of persons brought to criminal responsibility for the use of torture reached 17 people. 12 of them are in custody, and one is wanted. Four others were in custody pending the start of a new investigation. After the resumption of the proceedings, they were re-charged in connection with the identification of information about their participation in the use of torture.

Are there only 17 people responsible for the use of torture?

Valida Ahmedova, the mother of Elchin Guliyev, who died from torture during the "Terter case", speaks on this topic in the "Difficult Question" program.

According to Valida Ahmedova, she and other family members of the victims of the "Terter case", as well as the victims themselves, do not agree with the articles put forward as charges against Vusal Aleskerov, Rashid Niftaliev, Rustam Aleskerov and Ramil Garayev. They are outraged that these persons are not charged under Article 120 . (Premeditated murder), and according to the Article 145.3 (unlawful deprivation of liberty), 293.2 (torture committed by an official of a state body in connection with the performance of his official duties, or by a person acting in this capacity, or with his instigation or consent, or by other persons with his knowledge), 341.2.2 (Abuse of official powers or their excess committed with the use of weapons) and 341.2.3 The Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia (Abuse of official powers or their excess, which entailed grave consequences).

"Even during the trial, I and other victims made appropriate petitions. About 2 thousand servicemen were tortured. According to Rasul Jafarov (human rights activist – Editor's note), the investigation revealed 700 victims. However, according to official data, there are only 405 of them. But so far, the real number of victims has not been officially announced to us. Why are they hiding all this from us? There is no point in hiding it anymore. Everyone, the whole world knows about what happened," she said.

Valida Ahmedova said that Gasim Mammadov (head of the investigation team of the Prosecutor General's Office – Ed.) summoned her to sign a statement of claim. But she did not agree with that.

"I told him that, firstly, there are no names of two servicemen in the list of the dead. Secondly, there are no charges under Article 120. And finally, I am not familiar with Rustam Alekperov, why should I be recognized as a victim in his case? I heard that Rustam Alekperov really tortured people, but he was not involved in the death of my son. Why do they want to recognize me as a victim in his case?", Ahmedova said, adding that in fact, the accused should not even be charged with Article 120, but Article 274. (High treason).

"They killed so many people, subjecting them to the most severe tortures for hours every day. Here, it should not even be about the 120th most severe article. They should have been accused of treason because their goal was to damage the country's defense capability," she believes.--0--