Counsel rejects charges against former Navy Commander

Adem Mammadov, a lawyer of the former Navy Commander, the arrested Shahin Sultanov, held a Friday press conference. He considers the arrest of his client unfounded and based  on "slander", and charges of abuse of power and grand embezzlement a "fiction."

Charges are based  on the testimony of a citizen Elkhan Hajiyev, who was arrested three months earlier. This man, after three months of arrest suddenly began to testify against himself. In particular, he said that in his office Sultanov gave a commander 8000 manat.

During a confrontation Hajiyev said that  he gave not eight, but 7.000 manat. This contradiction in the testimony the lawyer called one of the indicators of unfounded accusations. Also, there is no other evidence in the transfer of money.

On behalf of the members of the family the lawyer read appeal to the head of state with request to replace his arrest on house arrest. Experts believe that one of the reasons for the arrest could be Sultanov’s involvement in human rights violations of citizens during the eviction of residents in the area of ​​present Flag Square. However, counsel noted that the Sultanov was not engaged in these issues. At the same time, at the complaint of Sultanov was arrested a defender of property rights of Bakhtiyar Mammadov.

However, the lawyer stated that the human rights activist was arrested for extorting money from Sultanov.

Shahin Sultanov led  the Navy  of Azerbaijan for several years, he was dismissed from his post in early April 2014,  and on  21 he was arrested for embezzlement. -05C-