The arrest of the General in the “Terter case”. Is it really the turn of the army elite?

Baku/06.09.22/ Turan: Following the  arrest of  Bekir Orujov, the Major General, the acting head of the Main Directorate for Ideological Work, Moral and Psychological Support of the staff of  Defense Ministry, several more people were arrested. Among them are Ramil Ahmedov and Rahib Mammadov, the Prosecutor General's Office reported.

So, in December 2021, after the resumption of the investigation into the “Terter case” , the number of people prosecuted for the use of torture against military personnel reached 17 people. In relation to 12 of them, an extreme measure of restraint arrest was applied. One person is wanted.  and another four are still in detention pending the resumption of proceedings in this case. After the resumption of proceedings, they were charged again in connection with the appearance of information about their participation in the torture of others.

Over the past period, 288 new victims who were tortured were identified, interrogated and subjected to a forensic medical examination. Taking into account the victims of the previous period, 405 people were recognized as victims.

The deceased lieutenant Temkin Nizamioglu is among those recognized as victims after the reopening of the case. In 2017, it was concluded that he died of a lung disease, but the investigation concluded that he died as a result of torture. His body was exhumed and the medical examiner's report confirmed that he died as a result of torture. His father was recognized as the legal heir of the victim.

The investigation was carried out on the cases of 26 people arrested on charges of high treason and other charges during the “Terter events”, but in the end they were convicted on other charges related to military service, and not high treason. The criminal prosecution against 19 of them was terminated on acquittal grounds. Seven more people were acquitted of the charges, the criminal prosecution against them was also terminated, although there were no acquittals in some episodes.

Also, the Prosecutor General appealed to the Plenum of the Supreme Court with a request to review the court decisions against 19 people accused of high treason and sentenced to long terms of imprisonment.

According to him, as a result of a long public campaign and protests, the state was forced to recognize the need for a re-investigation, and thus, on December 16, 2021, a special investigation team was formed to re-investigate the “Terter case.”

The day before,  the Prosecutor General’s Office issued   a statement with request to persons who were subjected to torture, physical and psychological pressure in connection with the investigation of the facts of treason in May-June 2017, but were not recognized as victims, to contact it through the “hot line ", he  politician said.

"Such a statement issued by the Prosecutor General's Office nine months after the start of the investigation allows us to hope that it is interested in solving this crime, identifying its organizers," Karimli said.

He noted with regret that many, fearing threats or due to legal ignorance, are not inclined to cooperate with the investigation and are in no hurry to testify.

According to Karimli, Major General Bekir Orujov was the chief of staff of the Beylagan Corps during the “Terter events”. “The events called  the “Terter events” also were taking place in the military units located in the Aghdam and Beylagan regions. As far as I know, Bekir Orujov, Ramil Ahmedov and Rahib Mammadov are accused of killing a serviceman Adil Sabirli,” he said. –0--