Consideration of Application for Release of Mehman Aliyev on Bail to Be Held on September 6 at 14.30

Baku / 06.09.17 / Turan: On Tuesday, the Turan news agency's director Mehman Aliyev was interrogated in Baku Pretrial Detention Center No. 1 for five hours. As the lawyer Fuad Agayev told Turan, Aliyev answered numerous questions of the investigator.

"Most of the issues were not related to the charges," said the lawyer. He does not expect positive consequences from the investigation regarding his client. In general, the very beginning of the criminal proceedings in the case under investigation was lawlessness. "The investigation is not independent. This case was not started in an independent form, therefore, we should not expect the termination of the criminal case. Probably, they expect a certain position from the head of state," Agayev said.

At the same time, the lawyer said Aliyev's health is normal.

The Yasamal District Court will consider a petition of the defense to release Aliyev on bail on September 6 at 14.30.

* Mehman Aliyev was detained on August 24. The next day he was charged under Articles 213.1 (tax evasion), 308.1 (abuse of official powers) and 192.2.2 (illegal business with a large income) of the Criminal Code. The court selected a preventive measure against him in the form of arrest until November 7. Aliyev rejected all the accusations and called them politically motivated.

International organizations condemned Aliyev's arrest and called for his immediate release. The US State Department also called for the immediate release of Mehman Aliyev. Concern about Aliyev"s arrest was expressed by the French and British Foreign Ministries, urging the Azerbaijani authorities to comply with their international obligations in the field of human rights. -0--