Polad Aslanov Does Not Consider Himself Guilty

Baku / 18.02.20 / Turan: The editor-in-chief of the website Xeberman.com accused of high treason, Polad Aslanov, made a statement at a trial in the Baku Serious Crimes Court on February 17.

During the trial, chaired by Judge Faig Ganiyev, Aslanov denied the allegations.

He stated that he had given primary testimony during the investigation under pressure.

Aslanov said that the true reason for his arrest was the publication of the collection of bribes by special services from a travel agency organizing a pilgrimage of believers to Mashhad and Karbala.

P. Aslanov denied the charge of transferring information related to state secrets to Iran’s secret services for a monetary reward.

P. Aslanov said that he and a representative of another media were invited to Iran by one charity, from which he received only 100 manat for travel expenses and he did not receive any other money from Iranians.

P. Aslanov said that even under the Minister of National Security, Eldar Mahmudov, he was called to this department and threatened.

According to P. Aslanov, he was personally pressured by the former deputy head of the Anti-Terrorism Center, Ilgar Aliyev, who later committed suicide in a pre-trial detention center.

He also protested against holding the previous closed session.

The trial will continue on February 20.

Polad Aslanov was detained on June 12 and arrested for 4 months on charges under Art. 274 (treason) of the Criminal Code. The investigation is conducted by the State Security Service. On October 5, the arrest period was extended for another 4 months.

In December, another charge was brought against him - under Art. 134 (threat to kill or cause serious bodily harm) of the Criminal Code. However, on February 10, Dayanat Babayev, recognized as a victim under this article, refused the complaint.-06B-