House Arrest of Former Investigator Rufat Safarov Extended for Three Months

Binagadi District Court has extended the term of house arrest for Rufat Safarov, a former investigator of Zerdab Regional Prosecutor’s Office, for another three months, Rufat Safarov told the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS).

Rufat Safarov, a former investigator, resigned from the prosecution authorities on December 20 due to what he described as rampant lawlessness and human rights violations in the country. He was simultaneously discharged by the order of the Prosecutor General, Zakir Garalov. According to the order, Rufat Safarov has been dismissed for committing acts incompatible with the position of a prosecutor or investigator at prosecution authorities and grossly violating Article 34 of the Law of Azerbaijan Republic on Prosecutor’s Office and Articles 30 and 31 of the “Code of Ethical Conduct of Employees of Prosecutor’s Office of Azerbaijan Republic.” On January 15, 2016, a criminal case was initiated against Rufat Safarov under Article 311.3.2 (taking bribes, when committed repeatedly) of the Criminal Code and Binagadi District Court ordered him to be put on remand for 3 months. On January 22, the pretrial detention measure was replaced by the measure of house arrest.

Rufat Safarov is the son of Eldar Sabiroglu, former head of the press service of the Ministry of Defense.

According to Rufat Safarov, although no investigative measures have been taken for the past 4 months, the term of investigation is extended again.

Safarov added that they sent him a message via different middlemen that if he apologized and joined the Yeni Azerbaijan Party (YAP), the criminal case would be discontinued.

“For me joining YAP is unacceptable, because I know for sure that YAP will go down in Azerbaijan’s history in black letters . Also, I will continue to speak out what I know as truth and I won’t retreat from the path of righteousness,” the former investigator said.

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