Arastun Orujlu: Arrests in the Ministry of Communications are not related to the Ministry of National Security

The arrests of high-ranking officials in the Ministry of Communications are not connected with the scandal around the Ministry of National Security and the arrests of their generals. Allegations that employees of the Ministry of Communications helped someone to bug or participate in the illegal tapping, sound incompetent, said in an interview with Turan news agency  a former employee of the Intelligence Ministry of National Security (MNS)  of Azerbaijan, now a well-known expert Arastun Orujlu.

"State officials used a government  communication that has always been run by the National Security Ministry, and  was no need to connect to the urban connection. Besides, the MNS does notneed any help to  tap  the city line and mobile communications," said Orujlu.

As for the reasons for  the arrests in the Ministry of Communications and a number of other agencies, the expert believes that they are demonstration arrests, which are for intimidation. "Their purpose is to intimidate entire bureaucracy, to show that all need to understand who is the boss, and behave accordingly. I think that a series of arrests still continue," said the expert, noting that certain circles are interested in giving all these scandals  an ominous character and  present it  as a general conspiracy.

 How can  be assessed  the change of the  leading staff  in the Ministry of National Security? Answering this question, Orujlu said that the dismissed generals and other senior officers are  the natives of the Anti-Corruption Squad. Eldar Mahmudov brought these people with him.

"These were the people who brought to the security system the worse things  from the Anti-Corruption Squad. They caused a serious damage not only to the authority of the ministry and the prestige of the government, but also to the security of the country. It will not be possible to liquidate the consequences of their incompetence  so quickly, because of the damage caused to the personnel capacity of the Ministry; it will require much time and  efforts.

With regard to the new appointments, senior officers who returned to the MNS are well known professionals, though not all were returned. However, after  Mahmudov  came to the Ministry were fired and arrested the  heads of the  department of counterintelligence and intelligence. Both are excellent professionals.

The head of counterespionage Seyfulla Gasimov  was the  first one whom  Mahmudov dismissed unreasonably. Soon after that, he died.

The head of intelligence taught in the KGB, Eldar Mammadaliyev was charged with illegal possession of weapons and arrested. How could they come up with such an accusation that the chief of Intelligence possesses the illegal gun!

Instead of regular officers and professionals random people  were appointed, who do not have any understanding  of the security services or working for other purposes," said Orujlu. Another "victim" of Mahmudov became Shahin Sailova ,a Secretary of the Commission for Missing Persons and Prisoners of War.

Being asked how  he assesses the   names of the employees of the security services openly discussed in the media  taking into account that it is prohibited by the law on the media and on the protection of state secrets, the expert said that in this case  they should not speak about  the damage  to the national security.

"The dismissed officers  are not in office  any more, and  the newly appointed  are  a high-profile people,  and there are no secrets.  Thos who make the daily work  are  at the low positions, and just they are the  top-secret people," said Orujlu.

Being asked what is the main reason for dismissal of Mahmudov and serious cleaning in the Ministry of National Security, the expert said that the violation of the rights of businessmen - is only a small part of the sins of the former leadership of the National Security Ministry. It is a struggle within the power groups. There is reason to believe that there are more serious crimes that the public will soon know, and probably never know. However, the warring factions poured into the media all in a row, competing to pour as much dirt on Mahmudov and his entourage. This is also a style of government: destroy your opponent so that he actually died or never recovered.

In this sense, for them there is no difference between the former colleagues and the opposition. Demolition of the monument to  Eldar Mahmudov’s father in his native Nakhichevan is a vivid indicator. This is frank Stalinism.  "And if the authorities demolished  houses belonging to  Mahmudov  and give them to kindergartens and orphanages, it would be logical, but the demolition of the monument to the scientist is a demonstrative act of revenge," the expert believes. Pro-government media called cleaning  in the MNS reforms and positive measures; but can it be regarded as a reform?

In answering this question, Orujlu said we should talk about the transformation of one of the main authority organ of power  to the hornet's nest, which planned and committed the crime. We must say that the system of State Security  is outlawed, and  steps are taken now to address this threat to the foundations of statehood. What kind of reform  are they?

The authorities need much time to wash what happened around the Ministry of National Security, and most likely they will never wash off all of this, concluded Arastun Orujlu. -02В-