The detention period of the preventive measure against the 4 individuals apprehended within the framework of the criminal case initiated against the former head of the Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev has been extended by 4 months.
This means that the investigation is still ongoing, and from now on, it will take at least 4 months for the case to be completed and sent to court.
But will the duration of the house arrest chosen for Ramiz Mehdiyev also be extended?
Medianews.az reports that there is no information about this yet. Ramiz Mehdiyev has been under house arrest since October 14 last year. The duration of this preventive measure chosen for him will expire on February 13.
Will the investigation continue with the extension of Ramiz Mehdiyev’s house arrest, or will he be released from house arrest? This will be known soon.
For now, it is known that the investigation is ongoing, and the court can start as early as summer.
Ramiz Mehdiyev is accused under Articles 278.1, 274, and 193-1.3.2 of the Criminal Code.
Article 278.1 of the Criminal Code concerns acts aimed at forcibly seizing power contrary to the Constitution of Azerbaijan, forcibly holding power, as well as forcibly changing the constitutional order of the state. These acts are punishable by imprisonment from 12 to 20 years or life imprisonment.
Article 274 concerns treason against the state. Treason, i.e. an act deliberately committed by a citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the detriment of Azerbaijan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, state security, or defense capability: defecting to the enemy side, espionage, giving state secrets to a foreign state, engaging in hostile activities against the Republic of Azerbaijan, assisting a foreign state, organization or their representatives in this - is punishable by imprisonment from 12 to 20 years or life imprisonment.
Article 193-1 concerns legalization of property obtained through criminal means. According to paragraph 3.2 of this article, i.e. Article 193-1.3.2, a person who commits the same act in a large amount ("large amount" means an amount exceeding 50 thousand manats) is punishable by imprisonment from 7 to 12 years with or without deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to 3 years.
Among those detained in the case of Ramiz Mehdiyev, AXCP leader Ali Karimli, his advisor Mammad Ibrahim, and former employee of the Presidential Administration Eldar Amirov are accused under Article 278.1 of the Criminal Code, and Vuqar Mammadov (Tofiqoglu), chief editor of the "Hurriyyet" newspaper, Hurriyyet.az website, and “Hurriyyet TV,” is accused under Article 182.2.4 (extortion with threat for the purpose of obtaining a large amount of property).