The week of 5-9 July saw doctors accused of accepting bribes, a statement by independent journalists, injured Azerbaijani serviceman and an explosion in the Caspian sea.
Doctors accused of accepting bribes
The trial of Parviz Abbasov, former director of the “Yeni Klinika” hospital, has begun Wednesday this week. Abbasov and four other doctors are accused of accepting bribes from patients being treated for Coronavirus.
According to the indictment, Abbasov has accepted bribes between 3000-5000 AZN in return for admission of corona patients at the hospital. He collected bribes from the relatives of the patients which he then distributed among four other doctors.
Parviz Abbasova was charged under Articles 311.3.2 (bribery, repeated offenses) of the Criminal Code, and other defendants were charged under Articles 32.5, 311.3.2 (assistance in repeated bribery) of the same Code. During the investigation Abbasova was put in custody, whereas the other four doctors remained free.
Azerbaijan's proposed new media law criticized by journalists
Independent journalists have
issued
a statement this week on a new draft law currently being prepared in Azerbaijan.
A new media law has been being discussed behind closed doors since January of 2021, after President Aliyev signed a decree forming the Media Development Agency.
Independent journalists issued a statement calling for the law to be opened for public discussion. In their statement, the journalists claim that taking into account the steps taken so far against freedom of speech and press in Azerbaijan, the new bill is not aimed at the development of the media, but at restricting media.
Incident reported near Agdam, both sides report injured
The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry's press service reported that one Azerbaijani serviceman had been injured on the evening of 6 July
this week
. The statement said that "illegal Armenian armed groups on the territory of Azerbaijan" had fired on Azerbaijani military units near Aliagali village in Agdam.
The report further says that as a result of the shooting, Azerbaijani serviceman Sakit Ahliman oglu Dadashov, who was involved in road improvement works, had been injured and taken to the hospital.
Armenpress reported that on the other hand, Samvel Asatryan, representative of the Armenian Armed Forces, accused Azerbaijan of violating the ceasefire in the Gegharkunik region.
Explosion in Caspian Sea off Baku's shore
In the beginning of this week an
explosion
took place in the Caspian Sea near the Umid gas condensate field. The sound of the explosions could be heard in Baku. According to social network users, flames caused by the explosion could be seen in Salyan, Lankaran and other regions.
SOCAR said that the cause of the explosion was the eruption of a mud volcano and there was no threat to human life. No industrial facilities of the company were damaged due to the fire, and all subsea and onshore facilities of the company are continuing to operate normally.
Azerbaijani Couple, Including President’s Cousin, Owns Properties Worth Millions in London and Ibiza
This week, the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) released a joint investigation with Transparency International regarding Aliyev’s cousin who was accused of receiving millions of suspicious funds which we also
covered
on our website.
