Imran Aliyev was placed under preventive detention

There were injury marks on the head of the site

An arrest warrant was issued for Imran Aliyev, the head of “Meclis.info” website, who was detained at the airport on April 18. On April 19, the Khatai District Court ordered a 2-month pretrial detention for him for the preliminary investigation period.

When Imran Aliyev was brought to the court, there were injury marks on him. He said that he was subjected to violence.

Imran Aliyev was brought to justice in the criminal case related to “AbzasMedia” publication. Like other journalists imprisoned in this case, he was charged with Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling by a group of persons who colluded in advance). He is accused of receiving funds through unregistered grant contracts in Azerbaijan and smuggling them into the country.

However, Imran Aliyev does not plead guilty, he says that the accusation against him is groundless.

On the evening of April 18, Imran Aliyev was detained on his way to Turkey and brought to the Baku City Police Department. At night, the house where he lived was searched.
Before all this happened – at noon on April 18, pro-government media, including “Qafqazinfo” website, published material against independent media and journalists. In that article, accusations were also made against “Meclis.info” website and Imran Aliyev.

Imran Aliyev said that what was written there was absurd and fabricated.

Arrests in the “AbzasMedia” case, known for its corruption investigations, began on November 20. First, the site’s director Ulvi Hasanli, deputy director Mahammad Kekalov, and editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifqizi were arrested. Later, arrests continued with investigative journalist Hafiz Babali, Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova. They are also charged with Article 206.3.2 (smuggling by a group of persons) of the Criminal Code.

The sanction of this article provides for imprisonment from 5 to 8 years.

After Ulvi Hasanli was detained on November 20, the office of “AbzasMedia” was searched. It was claimed that 40,000 euros were found in the site’s office.

Ulvi Hasanli said that there was no money there, that 40,000 euros were deposited in the office by those who claimed to have found it.

None of the named journalists plead not guilty, “AbzasMedia” said that a number of officials, including members of the President’s family, were punished for investigations related to business and corruption.

After “AbzasMedia”, head of “Kanal 13” Internet TV channel Aziz Orujov and employee of this institution Shamo Eminov were also arrested on charges of smuggling. Currently, the investigation of their case continues at the Sabail District Police Department.

On March 6, a group of Toplum TV channel employees were arrested on the same charge. It is claimed that various amounts of money were found during the search of “Toplum” editorial office and the houses of individual employees.

They deny this accusation and say that the allegedly found money was placed by the policemen themselves who searched the houses and offices.