Azerbaijan starts hearings on the case of former Public Health Minister

On January 31, the Baku Court of Appeal, chaired by Judge Gadim Babaev, began the hearings on the merits of the case of the former Public Health Minister Ali Insanov. The case is considered in connection with the decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 14, 2013, the ECtHR found a violation of Insanov's rights, who is serving his term on charges of economic crimes, and ruled to pay him the compensation in the amount of 10,000 euros. On September 10, 2013, Insanov sent his complaint to the Committee of Ministers on the Council of Europe that the Government of Azerbaijan had failed to execute the ECtHR's decision. The case was sent again for consideration to the Baku Court of Appeal.

According to investigators, Insanov had abused his service position, forged documents relating to the technical condition of the facilities of the Ministry of Public Health, and privatized in favour of his relatives in a total of 16 medical, pharmaceutical and economic objects.

The lawyer Asabali Mustafaev, who has represented the interests of a number of applicants from Azerbaijan at the ECtHR, has supported the demand of Insanov's advocates to release him from custody for the period of investigation.

Insanov was arrested in October 2005 on charges of participating in a conspiracy with the aim to overthrow the state power in Azerbaijan. In April 2007, he was sentenced to 11 years in prison on charges of bribe-taking. Insanov stated a political nature of his case, accusing President Ilham Aliev of establishing a military-police regime and embezzling the country's oil revenues.