In Azerbaijan, defence challenges arrest of former president's office manager

On June 24, the advocate of Akif Muradverdiev, a former office manager of the president of Azerbaijan, filed an appeal against the decision to arrest his client, as well as to conduct searches at Muradverdiev's home.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Akif Muradverdiev was detained in the morning on June 20 by employees of the Ministry of National Security (MNS) at the Baku Airport when trying to fly abroad. According to the Public Relations Centre of the MNS, Muradverdiev tried to take out old gold coins of the times of Imperial Russia, not declared at the customs. He is charged under Article 206.1 (contraband) of the Criminal Code.

Muradverdiev told his advocate that the coins had been planted into his hand luggage.

His advocate Fuad Agaev believes that Muradverdiev was detained with violation of the procedural rules. He was kept for 10 hours without presenting any formal charges; and all this time he was not allowed to contact his lawyer.

Fuad Agaev also challenged the searches conducted in connection with Muradverdiev's case. According to his story, the searches were carried out in the flats, which are not owned by Muradverdiev.

"Although nothing illegal was found during the searches, the procedural rules were grossly violated; and we will complain about it at the Court of Appeal," said Agaev.