Who sets up Ilham Aliyev

On 7 August the Department of Preliminary Investigation of Tax Crimes under the Ministry of Taxes of the Republic of Azerbaijan filed a lawsuit and started preliminary investigation against the information agency "Turan". The talk is about the accrual of additional income tax and penalties for late payments for the period from 2014 in the amount of more than 37,000 manat ($22,000 dollars).

On the afternoon on August 16, representatives of the Department of Preliminary Investigation of Tax Crimes of the Ministry of Taxes completed the search in the news agency. According to the "Turan", the tax authorities took with them copies of financial documents of the agency for the period from 2014, a number of other documents related to office work and personal data of journalists, which they found interesting. The Agency"s Director Mehman ALIYEV told Radio Free Europe (Radio Liberty) that the court order against him did not authorize a search in the office, nevertheless, the search was conducted.

Mehman ALIYEV

According to ALIYEV, personal computers of employees and all the papers on their desks were carefully examined. The director of the agency claims that "Turan" did not allow any tax violations.

"We are accused of tax evasion. The checks have started automatically. We all know how this process is going on in Azerbaijan. It is not difficult to foresee the results. "Turan" can beclosed. Naturally, this process can occur as a result of illegal actions," theYeniMusavat newspaper quoted Mehman ALIYEV.

The head of the news agency rejected the assumption that this pressure could begin because of some article or information published by "Turan" or on the Russian-language website contact.az, which he manages. Mr. ALIYEV noted that there is no free press notion in the country.

"Everything and everyone is taken under control. Now they want to establish full control. First they will take the documents, and then ... The sequel will be classical. It's always like this in Azerbaijan. First they will file a lawsuit, then will conduct inspections, the documents are being revised,"Mehman ALIYEV continued.

"Turan" isone of the first independent news agencies on the territory of the USSR, today it has wide channels of external communications among the opposition media of Azerbaijan.

On the other hand, this agency is considered to be the last breakthrough of independent journalism and which earned on subscriptions, because no one in Azerbaijan will advertise in an independent issue, as the advertising market is politicized. It is this agency in Europe and the United States that is recognized as the only reliable and objective source of information about Azerbaijan.

Against the background of the important stage of the negotiation process between Azerbaijan and the European Union, as well as relative warming with the post-Obama US, this step will lead to criticism and pressure from the West.

Probably, some interested persons in Azerbaijan are sabotaging the negotiation process between Baku and Brussels. A number of open questionsarises, which the responsible should explain

Is itworth spoiling relations with the European Union because of one site which was uncontrollable? Under theconditions when Azerbaijan badly needs loans and financing from the West, is it worth spoiling relations with them? Does this correspond to our national interests? What kind of threat can one site represent to the ruling party?

All major international public organizations have already begun to criticize Azerbaijan for a "fabricated case" against the agency. On the rise are statements from the structures of the European Union, the US State Department; and the relationship between the parties will again decline.

Today, according to the level of freedom of the press, Azerbaijan ranks 162nd out of 180 in the world ratings, not far from the authoritarian regime recognized by North Korea's partners.

One can infer a conclusion: someone in the entourage of Ilham Aliyev decided to "rigidly setup" the boss, exposing him to the world community as the "last dictator in the Caucasus" with all the consequences that are far from benevolent.