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Trial of Former Azerbaijani Economic Development Minister in Progress

Society Materials 17 May 2007 18:40 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan, Baku / Тrend corr E. Javadova / The trial of the former Minister of Economic Development, Farhad Aliyev, his brother Rafik Aliyev, former President of the Azpetrol conglomerate, and another seventeen defendants was continued 17 May at the Court on Grave Crimes presided over by Judge Tofik Pashayev.

Rafik Aliyev appealed for a repeated investigation based on the claim that the first investigation was corrupted due to falsification and fabricated accusations. "One of the accusations against me is tax evasion. However, the investigation revealed that I paid all taxes and was very responsible. Twice I met with a representative of the Tax Ministry in court and Azpetrol won the processes both times," Aliyev said. "Despite my repeated appeals to the investigation body I was not allowed to testify. And now the indictment notes that I voluntarily refuse to testify. That is not true," the former president of Azpetrol said.

In closing the session, the defendant's attorney, Fuad Aghayev, voiced his discontent that he had not been allowed to familiarize himself with the investigation records and requested that the court reconsider the case. The appeal will be discussed at the next session.

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