The trial in the case of the former head of the Gedabay region

Baku / 15.01.19 / Turan: Trial in the case of SalehRustamov, the former head of the Dedabay region"s Chief Executive, his nephew Vidadi Rustamov and members of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) - Babek Hasanov, Agil Maharramov and RuslanNasirovtook place in the Baku Serious Crimes Court.

They are accused of illegal financing of the PFPA.

After the announcement of the personal data of the accused, the presiding judge introduced their lawyers. After that, BakhruzBairamov, lawyer Saleh Rustamov, filed a petition for interrogation as additional witnesses to brotherand brother"s wife of his client, because according to Rustamov, he was arrested not far from the patrol post when he and his family traveled by car. Although the investigation claims that S. Rustamov was detained in the park of the city of Shamkir.

In addition, the lawyer applied for a request to the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies to determine, by means of a mobile number owned by Rustamov, his location at that time. State prosecutor Ali Aliyev asked the court not to satisfy the petitions. After a short meeting, the panel of judges decided to postpone the motion of the lawyer for further consideration.

OrkhanYusubov, lawyerof VidadiRustamov appealed to the court with a motion to replace the measure of restraint in respect of his client with house arrest, in addition, he asked the court to send a letter to the Baku investigation center to ensure meetings with his relatives and phone calls to them. The lawyer also asked the court to withdraw the records of interrogation of Vidadi Rustamov from the case file as a witness in the case of Saleh Rustamov, since the interrogation was conducted without a lawyer. Rejecting the first petition, the judge granted the second and adjourned the third.

After the completion of the filing and consideration of the petitions, the word was given to the prosecutor, who read the indictment, after which the judge Ismailov asked the defendants whether they pleaded guilty.

All five responded negatively, and the court proceeded to the interrogation of the accused.

Saleh and Vidadi Rustamov at this stage refused to testify. Therefore, the court proceeded to hear the testimony of Babek Hasanov.

Initially, he asked the court to hold subsequent meetings in the large hall: "So that the greatest number of people could witness the events taking place here."

After that, Hasanov began testifying: "On May 25, 2018, I used a private car, which I used as a taxi, and landed a client near the Narimanov metro station. At that moment, my car was blocked by two cars with 8-10 civilian. They made me get out of the car. I asked them for documents, but they did not pay attention, and forced me to get into their car. They said that they would take me to the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, and they did not answer my question about the reasons. After some time, it turned out that they were taking me home to the Yeni Guneshli village for a search, but before that they had driven me around the city for about two hours. After the search, they brought me to the office, where they demanded to give them a code from the phone. I refused and demanded a lawyer. After that they took me to a special room, where they tortured me with electric current. In the end, I could not stand it and gave the password. Then they demanded from me to confess, and I did. At the moment, I recognize three facts of transfer of money in the total amount of 1,100 manat. I did not give anything to anyone else. Four days later, I was taken to Kurdakhani to an insulator."

Then the prosecutor and lawyers asked Babek Hasanov how he knew Saleh Rustamli, whether he received a check when transferring money, etc. Hasanov replied that Vidadi Rustamov called him and asked to meet. At the meeting, he was given money without an envelope, which he took to the chairman of the Popular Front Party Ali Kerimli. He also stated that he had seen Saleh Rustamov only once, when he had taken Jamil Hasanli to a wedding party in the region.

The next trial is scheduled for 14:00 on January 22.--0--