“This government does not treat its citizens with dignity”

Complaints of persons whose bank accounts were blocked due to the “AbzasMedia” case were not satisfied

Those arrested in connection with “AbzasMedia” – director Ulvi Hasanli, editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifqizi (Abbasova), journalists Nargiz Absalamova and Hafiz Babali, as well as their relatives and those interrogated as witnesses in this criminal case, had their bank accounts and property seized, and were expelled from the country. access is restricted. It was also decided to submit information about their tax payments and share ownership to the Baku City Police Department.

Based on the request of the investigative body, these decisions were issued at the end of November in the Khatai District Court. The mentioned persons filed an appeal against those decisions. The aforementioned complaints were considered on December 20 at the Baku Court of Appeal. The imprisoned journalists themselves also participated in the court sessions.

Both appellants and lawyers spoke at the court sessions and said that the decisions of the Khatai District Court are illegal and groundless.

Ofelya Maharramova, Sevinj Vagifgiz’s mother, said that she has serious health problems, she has a heart disease. For this reason, the second group receives a disability pension. However, his pension card was blocked without any reason:

“I have also lost my wife, I am a sick person. Those who blocked my pension card don’t think about how this person has to make a living?”.

Economist Togrul Valiyev said that he works on the basis of a contract and his salary is officially transferred to his bank account. However, his salary card was blocked.

Hafiz Babaly said that the third group of disabled people had been receiving pensions for many years due to vision problems. Even before his arrest, he found out that his pension card had been blocked.

Hafiz Babaly said that President Ilham Aliyev was punished for investigating the business of family members and the assets of the head of the State Security Service, Ali Nagiyev. The journalist added that during the search of his house, the police also took away his shares, confirming his ownership of shares in various companies.

Sevinj Vagifgizi and Ulvi Hasanli also emphasized that they exposed the corruption of the authorities.

“This government does not treat its citizens with dignity. They pay the policemen from the paid taxes, and they oppress people. They give money to the judges, and they make custom, fake decisions”, – Sevinj Vagifqizi said.

Judges often intervened and tried to interrupt journalists’ speeches.

“But where should we speak?”– Ulvi Hasanli protested.

The lawyers also said that the restrictive decisions issued in the Khatai District Court are illegal. The defenders said that there was no justification for these decisions, it was only shown that the properties and bank accounts of various people were seized. However, the legislation necessarily requires justification of the necessity of such decisions.

Those arrested in connection with the “AbzasMedia” case, their relatives, and those involved in the investigation of this case as witnesses, requested the cancellation of the decisions of the Khatai District Court against them. However, in none of the 3 court proceedings held on these complaints, the appeal was not satisfied.

Lawyer Zibeyda Sadigova told Meydan TV that the appeals court is the last instance for appeals regarding such issues. That is, there is no appeal to the Supreme Court from these cases. Due to the exhaustion of domestic legal remedies, after receiving the decision of the Baku Appellate Court, a complaint will be sent to the European Court.

“A bank account can be seized only when there are sufficient grounds for suspicion. Money is transferred from the state budget to pension cards. The source of the money is known. Why should it be imprisoned? We also consider other decisions to be groundless.” – the lawyer added.

In addition to Ofelya Maharramova, the mother of Sevinj Vagifgiz, the pension card of Ulvi Hasanli’s mother, Esvira Musayeva, was also blocked. The salary cards of Ulvi Hasanli’s sister Sadagat Hasanova and economist Togrul Valiyev were also blocked.

The named persons state that they are facing financial difficulties because of these decisions.

Arrests related to “AbzasMedia” started on November 20. The wave of arrests that started with the director of the publication Ulvi Hasanli continued with the deputy director Mahammad Kekalov, editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgizi, journalists Nargiz Absalamova and Hafiz Babali. They were charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling – when committed by a group of persons who conspired in advance).

The journalists said that these accusations are absurd and that they were punished for the corruption investigations of “AbzasMedia”.