Azerbaijan, Baku, 29 March / Trend corr. K.Zarbaliyeva / Preparation session on the appeal by Farhad Aliyev, ex-Economic Development Minister of Azerbaijan, accused of corruption, was completed.
The process will commence on 15 April without investigation, a source reported to Trend on 29 March.
During the last session, Aliyev's lawyers protested against the composition of the judges, arguing that the investigation was not held objectively. The Chairman of Baku Appeal Court, Iman Nagiyev, denied the protest.
F.Aliyev and his brother Rafik Aliyev, the former President of the Azpetrol Group of Companies are accused of committing corruption-related crimes. The rest of the group are charged for attempting a coup d'etat and staging mass disorder in the country. F.Aliyev and R.Aliyev were arrested on 19 October, 2005 charged with abusing power, bribery, illegal privatization of state properties and economic crimes.
The Court on Heinous Crimes sentenced Farhad Aliyev to ten years in prison and his brother R.Aliyev - nine years.