F.Jaranly: "I was arrested at the request of the Azerbaijani authorities"

Baku / 05.04.18 / Turan: Azeri surgeon Farman Ceyranli, convicted in Georgia for six years of imprisonment, appealed to the public, stating the persecution by the Azerbaijani authorities for political reasons. "Everyone knows that I, like hundreds of other citizens of Azerbaijan, am convicted by the ruling regime for political views. From now on, even abroad, Azerbaijanis who do not agree with the current state policy are being persecuted," the appeal says.

According to him, during the trial on the basis of testimony of witnesses, representatives of the Ministry of Health of Georgia, as well as medical experts, it was revealed the absence of a criminal offense. "No violations were found either in the process of surgical intervention, in the organization of the transplantation process itself, nor in the management of financial affairs. According to the legislation of Georgia, as well as the World Health Organization, in view of the urgent operation and to save the patient's life, it was possible to conduct the operation without the permission of the Ministry of Health of Georgia," Ceyranli writes.

The only violation is that the operating surgeon at that time expired the license for organ transplantation operations. However, then the license was extended for 6 months. This violation is administrative, which obliges the surgeon to pay a fine of 1000 lari.

"The clinic has a director, a head physician, a financial director, as well as managers of other administrative departments, for whose activities I, being only the founder of the clinic, do not bear responsibility."

Ceyranli considers his arrest an order of the Azerbaijani government, which was successfully implemented by the Georgian authorities. The reason for this is "open support and assistance to the representatives of the opposition of Azerbaijan".

"I, like Afgan Mukhtarly, was sentenced to 6 years in prison. Taking this opportunity, I appeal to representatives of non-state organizations, as well as, to international human rights organizations - do not remain indifferent," Ceyranli said in the statement.

Charges against Ceyranli, who was arrested on May 22, 2017, were brought under the Article 247, paragraph 1 (concealing information threatening life and health), and subparagraph (b) of part 3 of Article 180 (an attempt of mass fraud). Subsequently, he was sentenced to six years in prison. -03D06 ---