Trial of Azerbaijani general, accused of murder, resumes

Today the Baku Military Court resumed a hearing of the criminal case of the former commander of a corps, Lieutenant-General Rovshan Akbarov

Today the Baku Military Court resumed a hearing of the criminal case of the former commander of a corps, Lieutenant-General Rovshan Akbarov.

Fakhrintaj Aliyeva, the spouse of Elchin Aliyev, who was murdered, was questioned as a witness in the trial chaired by judge Habib Hasanov, Qazet.az reports.

She confirmed the testimony she had given to the investigation.

Later, Samad Novruzov, a childhood friend of the deceased, testified as a witness, stating that he does not know the accused personally.

He told the court when he flew to Kyiv and how he arranged the transfer of Elchin Aliyev’s corpse to Baku, adding that once the body was dispatched to Azerbaijan, he had a chat with a Ukrainian man at the Azerbaijani embassy, where he was told that the deceased had been murdered by “ours” after an argument.

After Samad Novruzov testified at today’s court, the accused Rovshan Akbarov asked him why he did not go and ask Rovshan about it. In response, he replied that "I can't accuse anyone of murder without proof".

The next court session is scheduled for October 13.

According to official information, Rovshan Akbarov stabbed Elchin Aliyev in the heart in Kyiv on the night of May 31, 2001, at about 04:00 “due to the minor conflict”. There were reasonable suspicions that Rovshan Akbarov intentionally killed Elchin Aliyev by inflicting a stab wound to the heart with the intent to commit hooliganism.

Rovshan Akbarov was charged under Articles 12.1, 120.2.2 (premeditated murder) and 12.1, 221.3 (hooliganism) of the Criminal Code, and was remanded in custody by a court decision.