Trial against Intigam Aliyev
Azerbaijan
On 17 February 2015, another hearing in the case of the human rights lawyer Intigam Aliyev took place at the Court of Grave Crimes in Baku, Azerbaijan. This time, Aliyev was not forced to stay in a cage in the courtroom, but was allowed to sit with his lawyers. Russian lawyer Illarion Vasiliev observed the hearing and wrote a report about it. The next hearing is scheduled on 3 March.
Intigam Aliyev was arrested on 8 August 2014 on charges of tax evasion, illegal enterprise, and abuse of official power and sent to pre-trial detention. Aliyev denies all charges, and says they are politically motivated.
His arrest is apparently work related. As a lawyer, Aliyev has submitted more than 200 applications to the European Court of Human Rights. Around 40 cases are currently awaiting decision.
Lawyers for Lawyers and the Law Society of England and Wales called upon the authorities of Azerbaijan to immediately and unconditionally release Aliyev from pre-trial detention and to drop the charges against him.