At the trial in the case of the former, head of the State Media Support Fund

Baku/05.08.21/Turan: On August 5, a preparatory trial meeting in the case of the former head of the State Media Support Fund under the President of the country, Vugar Safarli, and 10 more persons was held in the Baku Serious Crimes Court.

During the trial, the defendants' lawyers petitioned to replace the preventive measure of arrest with house arrest. After deliberation, the court rejected the request. The next meeting is scheduled for August 20.

According to the investigation, Safarli, in collusion with several officials, embezzled state funds, overestimated the volume of work, having stolen 18 million 500 thousand manats.

The defendants were charged under the Article 179.4 (embezzlement on an especially large scale), 193-1.3.2 (legalization of money obtained by criminal means), 308.2 (abuse of office, which entailed grave consequences), 313 (official forgery) and other articles of the Criminal Code.

Safarli was dismissed from his position as executive director of the fund by a presidential decree dated April 4, 2020. He was arrested on January 14 this year. —05D06-