Legal Proceedings Intensify Against 'Meclis.info' Head and Colleagues Amid New Charges and Civil Lawsuit

The criminal case against Imran Aliyev, the arrested head of the "Meclis.info" online platform, and public activists Elgiz Gahraman and Tamella Musayeva, saw significant developments on July 1, with the commencement of witness testimonies and the revelation of a substantial civil lawsuit. The trio faces a range of charges, including smuggling, illegal entrepreneurship, and tax evasion, carrying potential prison sentences of up to 12 years.

The latest hearing took place at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes, presided over by Judge Roman Alakbarli. Both Aliyev, Gahraman, and Musayeva, who are currently under police supervision, stated they would present their testimonies after the completion of witness interrogations. All three defendants maintain their innocence and reject the charges brought against them.

Imran Aliyev was initially detained in April 2024, accused of smuggling. He has since alleged police brutality during his arrest, claiming officers beat him and used electric current to force him to sign documents. "Meclis.info," founded in 2023, is known for monitoring and analyzing the activities of the Azerbaijani parliament and providing informative content to the public.

The indictment against the defendants asserts that "Meclis.info" and its associated social media accounts were not officially registered with the state as required by law. Furthermore, it alleges that they used the platform to receive grants from foreign donor organizations, which were then smuggled into the country without proper customs declaration. The prosecution also claims that forged documents were utilized in these activities.

A key development in the July 1 hearing was the recognition of the Ganja Regional Tax Department as an injured party. The department has filed a civil lawsuit against the defendants, seeking 61,600 manats in damages.

Rasul Jafarov, Imran Aliyev's lawyer, strongly challenged this claim, demanding that an employee from the Ganja Regional Tax Department personally appear in court to substantiate the civil lawsuit. "That employee must explain the basis on which the amount was calculated, specifically from whom, and why they are demanding it. The representative himself should come and participate in the court. Sending a document to the court does not finish the job," Jafarov stated.

The court heard testimony from Elchin Huseynzade, a bartender who identified both Imran Aliyev and Elgiz Gahraman as his customers. Huseynzade stated that he also engages in "motion design" work in his free time. He recounted being sent images to work on, later realizing they were for "meclis.info" when logos were added to videos. He claimed no discussion of payment occurred, only a promise of a meal.

Huseynzade also addressed a trip to Georgia with the defendants, which the prosecutor questioned. He described the trip as a "complete coincidence," stating he had long wanted to visit Georgia, bought his own ticket, and stayed in separate accommodations, only sharing meals and drinks with the group.

While initially accused of smuggling, Imran Aliyev now faces an expanded list of charges, including the legalization of criminally obtained property, illegal entrepreneurship, tax evasion, and the use of forged documents. These charges fall under a total of eight articles of the Criminal Code. Elgiz Gahraman and Tamella Musayeva were also formally recognized as defendants in the case at the conclusion of the investigation.

The next court hearing is scheduled for July 15, when proceedings will continue with further witness testimonies.