The charges against Ilham Amiraslanov are groundless

Lawyer Samir Isayev held a press conference on the criminal case against 

Ilham Amiraslanov, activist of the civil society «Kura", which protects the rights of victims of the floods and fighting corruption associated with the elimination of the consequences of the floods in May and June in 2010.

He said the preliminary investigation finished, but there were many disorders. Prosecutor   for Supervision was informed about inconsistencies in the testimony of witnesses, the absence of testimony from some police officers, whose names Amiraslanov mentioned in connection with the provision of physical pressure on him. So, a policeman Sayid was not brought to justice, despite the suspected complained about him. The list of people involved in the arrest of a suspect was not attached. 

Amiraslanov  is charged with Article 228.1 of the Criminal Code (possession of firearms and ammunition), which involves hard labor for up to two years or imprisonment up to three years. He was arrested on June 8 on charges of possession of a pistol "Makarov" and ammunition. On that day he was attacked by several police officers and the employees of Office for Combating Organized Crime (OFOC) of the Interior Ministry, put a bag on Amiraslanov’s head and put him in a car. On the way, a local detective named Sayid put some object in Amiraslanov’s belt. He was one of those who actively beat Amiraslanov at the police station.

On August 1st the lawyer visited Amiraslanov in the special prison; Amiraslanov stated the reduction of pain in his body, and especially in the left ear, left the membrane which was broken during a beating by police. According to Isayev, oral applications of his client to the doctor   are not enough. In the prison official must seek and obtain medical care and examination.

In addition, X-ray showed that there were  fractures and cracks in the ribs of the suspect, no bruises and abrasions on the body were found, witnessed the  lawyer.

The lawyer believes that this investigation does not have any perspective. The prosecutor issued a decision that arguments of claimants are unfounded.  The formal decision will be made till August 8, when the term of preliminary investigation expires. The case will be forwarded for consideration to the Sabirabad regional  court.

The headquarters of “Kura” civil society insists that the true reason for the arrest of Amiraslanov is his protection of the rights of the people of Aran in the region affected by floods in 2010. After detention in Baku,  Amiraslanov wrote  a complain  to Kamal Kilidjev  the General Prosecutor Office for investigation and surveillance investigations in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, that he was subjected to torture and inhuman treatment.

During the arrest Amiraslanov, under torture, was forced to confess that he had found a gun two months ago on the banks of the Araz River, as he fed the cattle.

Amiraslanov was arrested on June 8, four days after the meeting with the Minister of Emergency Situations, Kamaleddin Heydarov, about the resolution of problems of flood victims in 2010. It was not the first meeting with the Minister. On June 24, 2010 residents of the flooded villages blocked the road to Baku, opposing the plan for the resettlement to the villages adjacent to the Kura River in the desert. Then Heydarov came to have negotiations, and spoke to Amiraslanov. After the resettlement plan was canceled.

May 5, 2011 a group of villagers of Askerbeyli, Gasymbeyli and others, went to the motorcade of President Ilham Aliyev. The President met with them and listened to their complaints. He also told to Amiraslanov. An hour later after the meeting, a representative of the Ministry for Emergency Situations called Amiraslanov and offered to meet and resolve their problems on the outskirts of the village of Askerbeyli. Amiraslanov warmed the headquarters «Kura" about the coming meeting, but when he went to the place a men who  had come by "Prado" with tinted windows, get out, trying to grab him, but he managed to escape through the reeds. Later on he was subjected constantly to psychological pressure.

After the arrest of Amiraslanov, the head of socio-political department of the Presidential Administration Ali Hasanov, on July 2, at a meeting with representatives of civil society, said the case of the arrested human rights activist Ilham Amiraslanov will be considered at a high level. -17D-