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PFPA CHAIRMAN ALI KARIMLI'S BROTHER-IN-LAW ARRESTED UNDER UNCLEAR CHARGES
http://azerireport.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3561&Ite mid=42
BAKU. April 4, 2012: In a new political attack against the
opposition leader Ali Karimli, the Azerbaijani government targeted
his brother-in-law Elnur Seyidov. On March 27, the Ministry of
National Security arrested Elnur Seyidov on fabiracted charges.
The preliminary hearings on Seyidov's case were held behind the
closed doors. Fakhraddin Mehdiyev, one of Elnur Seyidov's attorneys
said during the closed trial Elnur Seyidov stated that he did not
commit any crime, and that he was arrested for being Ali Karimli's
brother-in-law. Elnur Seyidov had a long career in a banking
sector, with his last job being a deputy head of Yasamal branch
of Technikabank.
Charges Without Evidence
Yesterday, charges were formally brought against Elnur Seyidov
, and Sabayel district court sentenced him to a three months of
imprisonment. Seyidov's lawyer Asabali Mustafayev stated that "Elnur
Seyidov was accused of using illegal methods, in transferring the money
collected by the citizens, to the head of board of directors Etibar
Aliyev. Asabali Mustafayev said this claim was unsupported by any
evidence. "We have no idea how they could possibly charge him under
these circumstances. During the trial at the Sabayel District Court
of Baku we protested saying that the law enforcement cannot simply
arrest someone and make no effort to produce any evidence to support
the criminal charges. For a normal charge, existence of evidence
is crucial, with arrest being the last resort among the preliminary
injunctions. Prosecution has not satisfied these criteria by failing
to provide any evidence to support the charges against Seyidov. Our
complaints were not accepted, and court ordered his arrest. The
investigations carry on, and we hope to get more information about
the case in the nearest future."
Who Else is Arrested?
Asabali Mustafayev also added the following: "Several other people are
also arrested regarding the case, though we do not have exact numbers
, and not sure about their identity. There are rumors that Etibar
Aliyev, Seyidov's dupervisor has also been arrested." Mustafayev
stated that during the arrest and detainment of Elnur Seyidov several
procedural requirements were not complied with, and that he will
forward a separate lawsuit regarding those issues. Elnur Seyidov
pleads not guilty.
"I am guilty of being Ali Karimli's brother-in-law"
Another lawyer of Elnur Seyidov Fakhraddin Mehdiyev stated in his
interview for the Yeni Musavat that his client said the charges
against him had no legal basis. He is in detention for no reason and
that his arrest was entirely arbitrary. Elnur Seyidov stated several
times in his trial , that he was not involved in any criminal activity
and that he was arrested for only being Ali Karimli's brother-in-law.
Elnur Seyidov stated his arrest was a tool in the hands of the
Azerbaijani government to pressure Ali Karimli.
The Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) chaired by Ali Karimi
already issued a public statement characterizing Elnur Seyidov's
arrest as political.
It is important to note that Elnur Seyidov's arrest coincides with the
time when the whole democratic world is urging the Government to make
political reforms prior to the Eurovision song contest. The PFPA has
regarded the arrest as the Azerbaijani government's response to the
political demands of the opposition to carry out the political reforms.
What the Azerbaijani government shows with this arrest, is that it
does not want to give up its authoritarian manners and that it is
determined to keep Azerbaijan as a tightly controlled society, said
Ali Karimli, the chairman of the PFPA, speaking to the local media.
Background History of Aliyev Government's Attacks on Ali Karimli
As a matter of fact it is important to remember that it is not the
first case of repression against Ali Karimli. His close friends,
relatives and fellow party members have been arrested on various
grounds with eight of the party members being currently in jail.
The Azerbaijani government has already kicked the PFPA out of its
headquarters in 2006. Ali Karimli has personally faced multiple
pressure aimed at preventing him from carrying out his daily activities
as a leader of a major opposition party. Ali Karimli has been denied
a passport which prevents him from making foreign trips.
The legal basis of the passport denial rests on the proposition that
Ali Karimli is under the ongoing criminal investigation since 1994.
Even if to disregard the violation of such a fundamental principle of
law as the right to speedy trial, the fact that the Attorney General
cannot investigate someone for 18 years without coming forward with
some legal charges, there are other grounds to question this strange
passport ban. Since 1994 Ali Karimli has served as a parliamentarian
in 2000-2005 and has used a diplomatic passport of a member of the
Azerbaijani parliament making multiple trips abroad. The passport
ban on Ali Karimli is a new development, but the legal excuse for
this ban is based on an alleged investigation dating 1994.
Karimli himself has been a target of several assassination attempts.
These issues have previously attracted considerable media attention.
Elnur Seyidov's arrest looks like another attempt by the Azerbaijani
government to hurt Ali Karimli. Additional mental pressure on the
opposition leader is put by the fact that his brother-in-law has
personally nothing to do with the Azerbaijani politics and suffers
from a severe condition of multiple sclerosis affecting his legs and
eyes (Azerireport).
http://azerireport.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3561&Ite mid=42
BAKU. April 4, 2012: In a new political attack against the
opposition leader Ali Karimli, the Azerbaijani government targeted
his brother-in-law Elnur Seyidov. On March 27, the Ministry of
National Security arrested Elnur Seyidov on fabiracted charges.
The preliminary hearings on Seyidov's case were held behind the
closed doors. Fakhraddin Mehdiyev, one of Elnur Seyidov's attorneys
said during the closed trial Elnur Seyidov stated that he did not
commit any crime, and that he was arrested for being Ali Karimli's
brother-in-law. Elnur Seyidov had a long career in a banking
sector, with his last job being a deputy head of Yasamal branch
of Technikabank.
Charges Without Evidence
Yesterday, charges were formally brought against Elnur Seyidov
, and Sabayel district court sentenced him to a three months of
imprisonment. Seyidov's lawyer Asabali Mustafayev stated that "Elnur
Seyidov was accused of using illegal methods, in transferring the money
collected by the citizens, to the head of board of directors Etibar
Aliyev. Asabali Mustafayev said this claim was unsupported by any
evidence. "We have no idea how they could possibly charge him under
these circumstances. During the trial at the Sabayel District Court
of Baku we protested saying that the law enforcement cannot simply
arrest someone and make no effort to produce any evidence to support
the criminal charges. For a normal charge, existence of evidence
is crucial, with arrest being the last resort among the preliminary
injunctions. Prosecution has not satisfied these criteria by failing
to provide any evidence to support the charges against Seyidov. Our
complaints were not accepted, and court ordered his arrest. The
investigations carry on, and we hope to get more information about
the case in the nearest future."
Who Else is Arrested?
Asabali Mustafayev also added the following: "Several other people are
also arrested regarding the case, though we do not have exact numbers
, and not sure about their identity. There are rumors that Etibar
Aliyev, Seyidov's dupervisor has also been arrested." Mustafayev
stated that during the arrest and detainment of Elnur Seyidov several
procedural requirements were not complied with, and that he will
forward a separate lawsuit regarding those issues. Elnur Seyidov
pleads not guilty.
"I am guilty of being Ali Karimli's brother-in-law"
Another lawyer of Elnur Seyidov Fakhraddin Mehdiyev stated in his
interview for the Yeni Musavat that his client said the charges
against him had no legal basis. He is in detention for no reason and
that his arrest was entirely arbitrary. Elnur Seyidov stated several
times in his trial , that he was not involved in any criminal activity
and that he was arrested for only being Ali Karimli's brother-in-law.
Elnur Seyidov stated his arrest was a tool in the hands of the
Azerbaijani government to pressure Ali Karimli.
The Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) chaired by Ali Karimi
already issued a public statement characterizing Elnur Seyidov's
arrest as political.
It is important to note that Elnur Seyidov's arrest coincides with the
time when the whole democratic world is urging the Government to make
political reforms prior to the Eurovision song contest. The PFPA has
regarded the arrest as the Azerbaijani government's response to the
political demands of the opposition to carry out the political reforms.
What the Azerbaijani government shows with this arrest, is that it
does not want to give up its authoritarian manners and that it is
determined to keep Azerbaijan as a tightly controlled society, said
Ali Karimli, the chairman of the PFPA, speaking to the local media.
Background History of Aliyev Government's Attacks on Ali Karimli
As a matter of fact it is important to remember that it is not the
first case of repression against Ali Karimli. His close friends,
relatives and fellow party members have been arrested on various
grounds with eight of the party members being currently in jail.
The Azerbaijani government has already kicked the PFPA out of its
headquarters in 2006. Ali Karimli has personally faced multiple
pressure aimed at preventing him from carrying out his daily activities
as a leader of a major opposition party. Ali Karimli has been denied
a passport which prevents him from making foreign trips.
The legal basis of the passport denial rests on the proposition that
Ali Karimli is under the ongoing criminal investigation since 1994.
Even if to disregard the violation of such a fundamental principle of
law as the right to speedy trial, the fact that the Attorney General
cannot investigate someone for 18 years without coming forward with
some legal charges, there are other grounds to question this strange
passport ban. Since 1994 Ali Karimli has served as a parliamentarian
in 2000-2005 and has used a diplomatic passport of a member of the
Azerbaijani parliament making multiple trips abroad. The passport
ban on Ali Karimli is a new development, but the legal excuse for
this ban is based on an alleged investigation dating 1994.
Karimli himself has been a target of several assassination attempts.
These issues have previously attracted considerable media attention.
Elnur Seyidov's arrest looks like another attempt by the Azerbaijani
government to hurt Ali Karimli. Additional mental pressure on the
opposition leader is put by the fact that his brother-in-law has
personally nothing to do with the Azerbaijani politics and suffers
from a severe condition of multiple sclerosis affecting his legs and
eyes (Azerireport).