12:53, 1 April 2016

Baku court passes conviction on Rasim Aliev's murder case

Five defendants in the murder case of the Azerbaijani journalist Rasim Aliev have been sentenced to prison terms from 9 to 13 years.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Rasim Aliev was beaten up on August 8, 2015, and on the following day died in hospital. The defendants Elshan Ismailov, Djamal Mamedov and Arif Aliev pled partially guilty; while Samir Mustafaev and Kenan Madatov stated their innocence. A figurant in the case is also a football player Djavid Guseinov, but his case is considered separately.

Today, the Baku Court of Grave Crimes, chaired by Eldar Ismailov, has announced the verdict, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

The Court has concluded that the participation of Madatov and Mustafaev in the criminal plot was not proved during the trial. Therefore, the initial charges under Article 126.3 (deliberate infliction of grievous bodily harm by a prior conspiracy, causing a person's death by negligence) were re-qualified into the Article 126.1 (deliberate infliction of grievous bodily harm) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan. Both were sentenced to 9 years in prison.

Djamal Mamedov was sentenced to 11 years, Arif Aliev – to 12 years, and Elshan Ismailov – to 13 years in prison. They were found guilty under Article 126.3, Ismailov – additionally, under Article 177 (theft) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.

Author: Faik Medzhid

Source: CK correspondent