Ikram Rahimov: Customers of My Arrest - Ali Hasanov and Aflatun Amashev

Baku / 27.03.19 / Turan: The Baku Grave Crimes Court, chaired by Alovsat Abbasov, launched a judicial investigation into the case of the realliq.info website editor Ikram Rahimov, accused of extortion by threats.

At the beginning, the prosecutor announced the indictment, according to which, Rahimov threatened various persons with publications of compromising materials and demanded money. The State Security Service (SSS) filed numerous complaints from victims.

Rahimov pleaded not guilty and called a lie the charges against him. "I know the one mentioned in the criminal case, Zakir Huseynov, for a long time. We were friends. I did not threaten him.

Raguf Mirzoyev worked in the Ministry of Environment. I knew this man through his relative. Critical materials were published about him in the press and I was asked to assist in the removal of these articles. I did not threaten him. On the contrary, the Ministry of Environment has awarded my site.

The persons mentioned in the case asked me, and I asked the heads of other websites that I don"t want to name for them," said Rahimov.

As for the SSS-distributed audio recordings, where Rahimov extorts money, Rahimov called them editing. "We asked for an examination of the audio recordings, but this was not done," said Rahimov.

He noted that the pressure on him began after critical publications about the Presidential Aide Ali Hasanov. According to him, Hasanov personally received him.

"At first he threatened me, then offered money and his supervision. I did not agree, and after that they blocked my website. The Press Council declared me a "racketeer" and appealed to law enforcement agencies. When I was detained and brought to the State Security Service, their first requirement was to delete the article about Ali Hasanov," said Rahimov.

He said that Hasanov and the head of the Press Council, Aflatun Amashev, stand behind his arrest, since the website wrote about their joint misappropriations during the construction of a house for journalists.

The next meeting will be held on April 8.

* Rahimov was detained on October 26, 2018, charged with extortion by threats and arrested by a court decision. Prior to his arrest, Rahimov said he was being persecuted because of the criticism of the Azerbaijani Presidential Aide Ali Hasanov. -06B-