Academic Ramiz Mehdiyev, who was placed under house arrest by the decision of the Sabail District Court, is accused under three articles of the Criminal Code: articles 278.1, 274, and 193-1.3.2.
Article 278.1 concerns actions aimed at forcibly seizing power contrary to the Constitution of Azerbaijan, or forcibly retaining 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, meaning a deliberately committed act by a citizen of the Azerbaijan Republic to the detriment of Azerbaijan's sovereignty, territorial integrity, state security, or defensive capability: crossing over to the enemy side, espionage, giving state secrets to a foreign state, engaging in hostility against the Azerbaijan Republic by assisting a foreign state, organization, or their representatives — is punishable by imprisonment from 12 to 20 years or life imprisonment.
Article 193-1 concerns legalization of property obtained by criminal means. Under clause 3.2 of this article, meaning article 193-1.3.2, a person who commits the same act in a large amount (“large amount” refers to an amount exceeding 50 thousand manat) 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.
Medianews.az reports that Ramiz Mehdiyev’s sentence may not end only with these. Additional punishment may also be applied. Ramiz Mehdiyev has a special rank and state awards. He is a true state counselor. True state counselor is the highest special rank defined in the public service and special state services in Azerbaijan.
Ramiz Mehdiyev has been awarded Azerbaijan’s highest state honors — the "Heydar Aliyev," "Independence," "Glory," and "Honor" orders.
According to article 43 of the Criminal Code, additional punishment may also be the deprivation of a special or military rank, honorary title, or state award. In this case, the submission of the institution that granted the rank or award to the court serves as the basis.
Thus, if the accusations against Ramiz Mehdiyev under articles 278.1, 274, and 193‑1.3.2 of the Criminal Code are proven in court, the verdict may not end only with the penalties stipulated in these articles. If there is a submission from the institution that awarded the rank and honors to the court, then the court may consider this submission as a basis and, under article 43 of the Criminal Code, impose an additional punishment, depriving Ramiz Mehdiyev of the special rank of true state counselor and his orders.
Ramiz Anvar oglu Mehdiyev was born on April 17, 1938, in Baku. He graduated from the history faculty of Azerbaijan State University and completed post-graduate studies at the philosophy faculty of Moscow State University. He holds a Doctorate in Philosophical Sciences and is a full member of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.
During the Soviet period, he held responsible positions in the Komsomol and party organizations of Azerbaijan, including department head and secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan.
From 1988 to 1994, he was the head of the department at the Institute of Socio-Political Research and Information of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences.
Since 1994, he headed the general department of the Presidential Executive Office; from 1995 until October 23, 2019, he was the head of the Presidential Administration (called the Presidential Executive Office until 2009); from October 23, 2019, until February 19, 2022, he served as president of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. Since October 23, 2019, he has been a member of the Security Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Toğrul Ali,
Medianews.az
