23:19, 24 July 2007

Officer who fought corruption arrested in Azerbaijan

On July 23, Colonel-Lieutenant of Azerbaijani Army Rasim Muradov was arrested. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent has learnt about it at the committee in defence of his rights.

According to the statement, Mr Muradov was accused of bribery and excess of service powers. The criminal case on these charges was initiated against him several weeks ago by the Baku Military Prosecutor's Office.

We remind you that Rasim Muradov is a former deputy commander of the Security Regiment of the Ministry of Defence. In 2006, facts of corruption and violations were revealed in the Regiment. Rasim Muradov was one of those who helped in revealing these violations, after that the leadership of the Ministry of Defence started to persecute him.

The officer was lowered in his military rank and sent to draw his duty at one of the military units of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic. Having regarded it as injustice, the Colonel-Lieutenant wrote a petition on his retirement from the army and refusal from his Azerbaijani citizenship. However, the command has decided to initiate a criminal case against him.

Author: Zaur Rasulzade, CK correspondent