On 27 May, the Baku Serious Crimes Court held a preparatory hearing for the “Majlis Info” case, in which Imran Aliyev has been remanded in custody and Elgiz Qahraman has been placed under police supervision.
Presided over by Judge Roman Alakbarli, the session began with a motion from Imran Aliyev’s lawyer, Rasul Jafarov, requesting that his client be allowed to sit in the courtroom instead of the defendants’ enclosure. The motion was granted.
Rasul Jafarov then filed further motions asking the investigative body to provide the defence with a PDF copy of the indictment, to terminate the criminal proceedings, and to replace Imran Aliyev’s pre-trial detention with house arrest. The judge denied all three motions.
The next court hearing is scheduled for 10 June.
Background
Imran Aliyev was detained on 18 April last year at Heydar Aliyev International Airport. Officers of the State Border Service (SBS) handed him over to the police. He was initially charged under Articles 206.3.1 (smuggling, repeated) and 206.3.2 (smuggling committed by a group acting in prior conspiracy) of the Criminal Code. Eight additional charges were later brought against him.
Civil society activist Elgiz Qahraman was charged in February this year as a defendant in the same “Majlis Info” case. Investigators imposed a preventive measure placing him under police supervision.
Both men now face eight serious charges involving financial crimes and abuse of official authority, each carrying penalties of up to 12 years’ imprisonment.
Domestic and international human-rights advocates say the criminal case was initiated on political orders.