Eldar Gasanov accuses investigators of biased attitude

Former ambassador of Azerbaijan Eldar Gasanov called the charges of embezzlement and other crimes brought against him unfounded and ordered.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that Eldar Gasanov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, was detained on August 13, 2020, on the charge of misuse of state budget funds and abuse of power. Eldar Gasanov pleaded not guilty, and human rights defenders associated the prosecution of the former ambassador with his political ambitions.

Eldar Gasanov considers the accusations brought against him “illegal, unfounded, biased, and ordered,” as he states in an appeal posted on Facebook by his advocate Djavad Djavadov on August 16. “The real reason [of the criminal proceedings] is the provision to the country’s leaders of absolutely false and far-fetched information about my alleged political ambitions,” Eldar Gasanov wrote in his appeal.

Eldar Gasanov claimed that “during 27 years he was faithful to the policy of Heydar Aliev and current President Ilham Aliev.” “The accusations brought against me are not based on reliable evidence or legal and procedural foundations, but they are ordered, biased, and pursue the goal of revenge against me,” Eldar Gasanov said.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 17, 2021 at 11:56 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.