FARHAD ALIYEV'S TRIAL BEGINS WRAPPING UP;

UNCLAS BAKU 001165 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM KCOR AJ SUBJECT: FARHAD ALIYEV'S TRIAL BEGINS WRAPPING UP; PROSECUTOR ASKS FOR 11 YEARS REF: BAKU 1093 ¶1. (U) Only a handful of trial sessions have been held since our last update (ref) in the case of former Minister of Economic Development Farhad Aliyev, who stands trial with 17 other defendants, including his brother, former AzPetrol head Rafig Aliyev. The defense has begun its rebuttal, and several defense attorneys have requested acquittals for their clients. Neither of the Aliyev brothers' attorneys has begun to present closing arguments. The next session is set for September 23, and we expect a verdict to be issued within the following two weeks. ¶2. (U) Prosecutor Nazir Bayramov has asked Judge Hafiz Pashayev for a sentence of 11 years' imprisonment for Farhad Aliyev, who has been charged with misappropriation, embezzlement, illegal entrepreneurship, smuggling, tax evasion, abuse of power, accepting bribery, and forgery (articles 179.3.1, 179.3.2, 192.2.1, 192.2.2, 206.4, 213.4, 308.2, 311.3.1, 311.3.2, 311.3.3, and 313). Bayramov asked for sentence of ten years' imprisonment for Rafig Aliev, who has been charged with violating the right to land ownership and illegal destruction (articles 179.3.1, 179.3.2, 188, 192.2.1, 192.2.2, 206.3.1, 206.4, 213.4, 259, and 313). Requested sentences for the 17 other defendants, mostly former Ministry of Economic Development or AzPetrol employees, range from prison sentences of nine years to suspended sentences of one year. LU