Azerbaijani journalist Imran Aliyev complained about being denied treatment.

Imran Aliyev, the head of the Meclis.info website, who is under arrest, complained to the court about the failure to provide him with the necessary conditions for examination at a civilian clinic for surgery.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot," Imran Aliyev, journalist and head of the Meclis.info website, was detained on April 18, 2024. He was charged with smuggling. On March 7, it was announced that activist Elgiz Gahraman (Gahramanov) had also been charged in the Aliyev case. He has pleaded not guilty. Following the investigation, Aliyev and Gahraman were charged with eight criminal offenses, including illegal entrepreneurship, money laundering, smuggling as part of an organized group, tax evasion, and document forgery. Aliyev faces up to 12 years in prison.

Yesterday, March 31, the trial of Imran Aliyev and other defendants continued in the Baku Court of Grave Crimes. The website's director has reported serious health problems, his father, Baghir Aliyev, announced today. According to him, Imran Aliyev has a herniated disc and requires urgent surgery.

To confirm the diagnosis and the extent of the disease, Imran Aliyev must undergo an MRI. However, neither the medical unit of the Baku Pre-Trial Detention Center, where Imran Aliyev is being held, nor the Penitentiary Service Medical Facility has such equipment, Baghir Aliyev told a Caucasian Knot correspondent.

According to his journalist father, the judges promised to send a letter to the Ministry of Justice to facilitate Aliyev's examination in a civilian clinic.

Lawyer Rasul Jafarov told a Caucasian Knot correspondent that the defense had filed a motion to allow Imran Aliyev to undergo an MRI in a civilian clinic. The judges granted the motion, and during the trial, it was stated that the court had no objection to Imran Aliyev's examination in a civilian medical facility, and a corresponding letter would be sent to the Ministry of Justice.

The lawyer noted that Aliyev denies the charges. The defense also maintains his innocence. "Imran Aliyev's guilt is not confirmed by either the criminal case materials or the testimony of witnesses and other defendants," the lawyer said.

The Baku Court of Grave Crimes only confirmed the news of a hearing on this case.

It should be noted that on March 31, the court concluded witness testimony and began hearing the defendants' testimony.

A human rights activist observing the hearing reported that activist Elgiz Gahraman and accountant Tamilla Musayeva were questioned in court. They are under police supervision during the preliminary and trial investigation. According to the source, Gahraman denied the charges and merely was friends with Imran Aliyev and helped him research open sources for the Meclis.info website.

Gahraman emphasized that the investigation cites 57 phone calls with Imran Aliyev as evidence of his involvement in certain criminal acts, but this is not surprising given that they are friends.

The defendant, Musayeva, stated that she worked as an accountant for Imran Aliyev in 2021-2022, received an official salary, and paid taxes. Musayeva said that she "did not prepare any forged documents, did not commit any illegal acts, and did not sign for anyone."