Intigam Aliyev’s appeal will be consider a month (UPDATED)

On 26 January the Supreme Court, chaired by Gulzar Rzayeva began consideration of the appeal of the convicted lawyer, head of the Legal Education Society Intigam Aliyev. After the speech of the lawyer the judge decided to postpone the hearing on February 24 due to the perceived need to "examine the documents." Intigam Aliyev was arrested on August 8, 2014 on charges of tax evasion, abuse, embezzlement and illegal business. On  April 22, 2015 Aliyev was sentenced to 7.5 children in prison. On 21 July the Baku Court of Appeal upheld the verdict.

The lawyer Javad Javadov said in court that Intigam Aliyev refused to attend the trial, due to health problems. Counsel further noted that Intigam Aliyev specialized in human rights issues. He went to the European Court of Human Rights more than three hundred complaints, winning 40 cases. Decisions were adopted   on another 10 complaints, after Aliyev's arrest. Violations of Aliyev began on the day of his arrest on August 8, 2014. During a search at the office of Aliyev, prosecutors seized all the documents that created problems for securing Aliyev.

The complaint for the arrest of Aliyev was accepted by the ECHR  for consideration  as a priority, and in the near future  it is expected to make a decision. The verdict of the trial court accused Aliyev for "not protecting  the rights of the European Court of Azerbaijani refugees and did not hold their trainings in the occupied territories." However, the verdict issued by the protection  does not contain such wordings, which have been preserved in the media. This in itself is an indication of political verdict, the lawyer continued. As for the charges, the investigation interpreted it as a consequence of illegal business,  implementation projects by Aliyev without registration grants the Ministry of Justice. However, the grants have been registered, and information about it was on the site of the Justice Ministry,

A copy of the screenshot was given in court. However, the court did not accept this document as proof. With regard to the assignment of the charges, it is based on the fact that the accountant Gulshan Orujova transferred funds from the World Bank to Unibank on account of her sister Afsana Orujova, and then the funds were cashed.

Under the pressure of the investigation  the sisters Orujovas stated that  after cashing the money were transferred  to Aliyev. However,  on the payment orders his signature was forged.

Despite the defense motion, the investigation and the courts refused to examine handwriting. At the same time, the defense presented the conclusion of the expert from Poland, confirming that the signatures on the payment order do not belong to Aliyev. However, the Court of Appeal did not accept the document.

Finally, counsel asked the court to cancel the decision of the lower courts and to terminate a criminal case on grounds of acquittal. The judge decided to postpone the meeting for a month. -06D-

2016 January 26 (Tuesday) 14:17:14

The Supreme Court of Azerbaijan chaired by Gulzar Rzayeva started hearing the appeal from the head of the Legal Education Society Intigam Aliyev.

The human rights activist refused to participate in the hearing due to health problems and lack of faith in the fairness of the trial. This was announced by the lawyer Javad Javadov.

In his speech, he called on the court to acquit Aliyev due to the obviously untrue charges against him. The meeting was adjourned until 14:30

Intigam Aliyev was arrested on August 8, 2014. He was charged under Articles 213.1 (tax evasion), 308.2 (abuse of power), 192.2 (illegal entrepreneurship) and 179.3.2 (misappropriation and embezzlement) of the Criminal Code. On April 22, 2015 the Baku Court of Grave Crimes sentenced Aliyev to 7.5 years in prison. On July 21 the Baku Court of Appeal upheld the verdict.

Amnesty International recognizes Intigam Aliyev a "prisoner of conscience". -06C--