Azerbaijan, Baku / Тrend corr E. Javadova / The trial of the former Azerbaijani Economic Development Minister, Farhad Aliyev, his brother Rafig Aliyev, former president of Azpetrol group of companies, and other 17 defendants is has continued on 16 August at the Court on Serious Crimes presided by Judge Tofik Pashayev.
The petition of F. Aliyev's attorney, Isakhan Shukurov, containing 178 pages which were submitted to the court several days ago was discussed at the beginning of the trial. The petition indicates the difference in assessments of the State property in the period when F. Aliyev was occupying the position of Economic Development Minister at that time. Along with attorneys and prosecutors, F. Aliyev also voiced his feelings towards the petition. According to him, during his office term, the privatization of 3,000 objects was not coordinated with market prices like in any country in the world. He stated that privatization in Azerbaijan is held in accordance with Presidential order and the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers.
After consideration of the petition the judge reported that the petition was partially accepted and the issue would be discussed during the investigation of the evidence.
The process continued with the testifying of the former deputy head of State Property Privatization Department, defendant Maarif Gurbanov.
Gurbanov is accused of falsifying documents on state property privatization under the order of F. Aliyev. He said that he was working not for F. Aliyev, but the head of State Property Privatization Department, Karam Hasanov.
A representative of the Department at the trial, Gahraman Aliyev, protested against the testimonies of Gurbanov.
The trial is in progress.