Imran Aliyev was charged with a new charge

The new charge is related to Meclis.info

Imran Aliyev, the jailed head of “Meclis.info” website, was charged with additional charges. A new charge was brought against the public activist under Article 206.3.1 of the Criminal Code (smuggling – in case of repeated commissions). The investigator announced this accusation to him on April 26 at the Baku Investigation Detention Center.

Imran Aliyev was previously charged with Article 206.3.2 (smuggling by a group of persons) of the Criminal Code. He was brought to criminal responsibility in the “AbzasMedia” case.

The new charge is related to Meclis.info. He is accused of money laundering in relation to both “AbzasMedia” and “Meclis.info”.

According to the indictment, Imran Aliyev participated in secretly bringing grant funds allocated to both media organizations into the country.
However, Imran Aliyev does not feel guilty, he says that these accusations are groundless. He considers himself the next target of repression against independent journalists and social activists in the country.

On April 18, Imran Aliyev was detained at the Baku airport on his way to Turkey and handed over to the employees of the Baku City Police Department. That day, at night, the house where he lived was searched. On April 19, when the court issued an arrest warrant for him, Imran Aliyev said that he was tortured by the police, and his body was given electric shocks. When he was brought to the court, the injury marks were visible on him.

The press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs denied that Imran Aliyev was tortured. This institution said that what was said is baseless.

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 charges. 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 in the houses and offices by the policemen themselves.