Azerbaijan: Appeal Court upholds verdict to Farkhad Aliev

On July 16, the Baku Appeal Court presided by Mirpasha Guseinov finished considering the appeal complaint lodged by ex-Minister for Economic Development of Azerbaijan Farkhad Aliev, his brother, former head of the "Azpetrol" private company Rafik Aliev, and five more persons.

Before the announcement of the decision of the Appeal Court, F. Aliev's advocate disseminated his statement saying that he had become "a victim of a plot and provocation."

According to the ex-Minister, the head of the state was wrongly informed by "certain interested persons." However, no evidences of his treachery have been presented, as Mr Aliev asserts. He also complained that he was still kept in the SIZO (pre-trial prison) of the MNS (Ministry for National Security) of Azerbaijan and not transferred to the colony, although there was a respective court decision to this end.

"Despite my heavy heart disease, I'm not provided with proper medical examination and treatment," ran Farkhad Aliev's statement.

According to Isakhan Ashurov, ex-Minister's advocate, the decision of the Appeal Court was unfair, and the defence would file a cassation complaint.