Investigation Illegally Restricts Mehman Aliyev's Rights in Pretrial Detention Center - Lawyer

Baku / 07.09.17 / Turan: Restrictions of the rights of the Turan news agency's director Mehman Aliyev to hold phone conversations and meetings with members of his family have been introduced in Baku Pretrial Detention Center No. 1. The lawyer Fariz Namazli, who visited Aliyev on September 7, stated this to Turan.

According to the lawyer, the restrictions were introduced by the decision of the Deputy General Director of the Department for Preliminary Investigation of Tax Crimes of the Ministry of Taxes Gurban Mehraliyev on August 30, 2017.

Namazly regards the restrictions as unfounded and illegal. He will apply to the specified department to obtain a copy of the decision with a view to the subsequent appeal against it.

"Mehman Aliyev is accused of committing a tax crime. Therefore, the ban on his telephone conversations and meetings has no legal basis or logic. The restrictions are not clear. Mehman Aliyev is not a criminal, or a member of an organized criminal group, so that such restrictions could prevent his contacts with members of this community," the lawyer said.

On September 8, the Baku Court of Appeal appointed the consideration of the complaint in connection with Mehman Aliyev's illegal detention on August 24.

The defense believes there were no grounds for detaining Mehman Aliyev, since he did not hide from the investigation and came in for questioning on time.

The Yasamal District Court earlier rejected the complaint against this decision. The defense filed an appeal.

* 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. -06B--