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Trial of Azerbaijani MNS ex-officials continues - UPDATED

Trial of Azerbaijani MNS ex-officials continues - <span style="color: red;">UPDATED

21 September 2017 11:16 (UTC +04:00)

The Baku Military Court continued Thursday the trial in the case involving head of the Anti-Terrorism Center of the liquidated Ministry of National Security (MNS) of Azerbaijan, Major-General Elchin Guliyev and another former MNS official Azer Mehdiyev.

Guliyev said that witnesses who are taking part in the trial were persuaded.

This caused the dissatisfaction of the victim Magsud Mahmudov. Mahmudov said that generals like Guliyev have split the MNS.

Guliyev called the victim swindler. The sides began to argue. They used abusive words towards each other.

Mahmudov splashed a glass of water on Guliyev. After that, the judge ordered to remove Mahmudov from the courtroom.

The trial will be resumed on September 22.

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13:08

The notary of Notary Office No.70, Nadir Farhadov, gave testimony at the trial, APA reported.

Testifying on the episode of defendant Asgar Aliyev, he said that the purchase and sale of lands were carried out on the basis of legal documents. The witness said that he was instructed by a person called Heydar, who worked in the MNS, for signing the agreement.

Prosecutor Fahmin Humbatov said that there were some contradictions in the witness’ testimony. It was noted that according to the testimony given during the preliminary investigation, Farhadov legalized the purchase and sale agreement upon an instruction given from the MNS.

Later, Elchin Guliyev’s lawyer filed a petition demanding submission of the purchase and sale agreement to the court.

The court upheld the petition.

Abulfaz Mammadov testified on the episode of defendant Matlab Mustafayev.

A. Mammadov said that he was a close friend of Mustafayev’s brother, Colonel Malik Mustafayev, who committed suicide.

Stating that Malik Mustafayev was subjected to pressure by Elchin Guliyev, Abulfaz Mammadov accused the general of his death.

“I met with Malik a day before his death. He said he was going to kill himself. He told that his chief Elchin Guliyev put pressure upon him because of his brother Matlab Mustafayev. According to his words, Elchin Guliyev was trying to make his brother give testimony against Ali Nagiyev,” he said.

This time Guliyev protested against the witness and accused him of lying. “Do you know Ali Nagiyev? What kind of information could Matlab have about Ali Nagiyev that I wanted to get it? You gave testimony immediately after Malik Mustafayev's death. You did not even mention my name in it. Why are you mentioning my name now? Then, this witness testifies by pressure and his statement is biased. Was there anyone threatening you that they would kill you and cut your head off?” he said.

“You have got used to cut heads off,” the witness replied.

The judge asked the witness why not he mentioned Guliyev’s name at the interrogation. The witness did not tell the reason.

After that Movsum Asgarov, the chief of the Investigative Department of the former National Security Ministry gave testimony over Mustafayev’s episode.

A break was announced in the process.

Major General Elchin Guliyev is former chief of the Anti-Terrorist Center of the liquidatedMinistry of National Security (MNS) of Azerbaijan. Following the scandals surrounding the MNS, Elchin Guliyev was dismissed and appointed department head at the MNS Academy named after Heydar Aliyev. He was then arrested.

Elchin Guliyev and the others face the charges under the Articles 145.3 (Illegal imprisonment on negligence ended with death of the victim or other serious consequences, 181.3.1 (Burglary by organized group), 181.3.2 (Burglary with a view to occupy large size of property), 182.3.1 (Extortion by organized group), 182.3.2 (Extortion with a purpose of occupying large size of property), 302.2 (Infringement of the legislation on operative - search activity committed with use of special means, intended for secret dredging the information), 308.2 (Abusing official powers) 309.2 (Excess of official powers committed with application of violence or with threat of its application, or with application of weapon or other special means, or entailed heavy consequences), 311.3.1 (Reception of a bribe on preliminary arrangement by group of persons or organized group), 311.3.2 (repeated reception of a bribe), 311.3.3 (reception of a bribe in the large amount) of the Criminal Code.