Press Review 10/21/15

Official newspapers write about Ilham Aliyev’s meeting with new ambassadors of U.A.E. and Switzerland, as well as the appointment of Madat Guliyev First Deputy Minister of National Security.

Azadlyg writes about the arrest of seven senior employees of MNS, the identification of the terrible crimes committed by them, as well as the reaction to the arrests.

The charges against the former chief of the Ministry of National Security Eldar Mahmudov regard serious crimes, which in fact are accusations against the authorities, experts say.

Head of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party Ali Kerimli said that the decision of President Ilham Aliyev to stop the audit of business for 2 years is a fiction in order to improve the image of the authorities against the background of the economic crisis.

The Swiss expert Hannest Meynar believes that the destruction of the civil society by the authorities in Azerbaijan is connected with their intention to help themselves to oil revenues.

The lawyer Kamandar Nasibov says that the loan scandal with IBA has hit ordinary performers, and those responsible remain at large.

The shadow economy in the country is not at 9%, as indicated by the official statistics, but at 60%.

Several people engaged in currency exchange have got lost in Agjabedi. However, the district police called it a slander.

Express writes that representatives of official Baku did not take part in the meeting of OPEC.

Georgian Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze said Azerbaijan cannot meet the needs of Georgia for gas.

Echo writes about the need for “budgetary” (inexpensive) hotels to attract tourists to Azerbaijan.

Bizim Yol writes about the appointment of Madat Guliyev First Deputy Minister of National Security, as well as the beginning of the investigation into the business of the son of the former chief of MNS Eldar Mahmudov.

The newspaper writes about tightening legislation on punishment for crimes related to terrorist financing.

Yeni Musavat writes about the investigation into the actions of MNS generals.

The newspaper writes about the resignation of the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Tekhnikabank Rovshan Ismayilov, regarding it as the resignation of the last person related to Jahangir Hajiyev.