Alasgar Mammadli – Mass Media Rights Expert, Founder of ‘Toplum TV’ – an Internet TV station within the Institute for Democratic Initiatives" Date of arrest: 8 March 2022 Charge: Articles 162-1 (Involvement to perform any work (services) without labor contract entering into force); 192.3.2 (Illegal business, committed with gaining an extra large-scale income); 193-1.3.1 (Legalization of money or other property obtained by crime, committed by an organized group or a criminal organization (criminal association); 193-1.3.2 (Legalization of money or other property obtained by crime, committed in large amount); 206.3.2 (Smuggling committed on preliminary arrangement by group of persons); 206.4 (Smuggling, committed by the organized group) and 213.2.1 (Evasion from payment of taxes, committed by the organized group) of the Criminal Code of the Azerbaijan Republic.
On 8 March 2024, the Baku City Khatai District Court issued a ruling: to apply a preventive measure against Akif Qurbanov in the form of arrest for a period of 4 months.
The period of detention in custody during the investigation has been subsequently extended several times Place of detention: Pre-trial Detention Center № 1 at the Kyurdakhani settlement in Baku City Sabunchu District Conclusion: On 6 and 7 March 2024, the at the Baku City General Police Department officers searched the office of Toplum TV Internet as well as the office of Platform III Republic, when a few employees were detained on suspicion of smuggling.
On 8 March, Alasgar Mammadli, a founder of Toplum TV, and Ruslan Izzatli, a board member of the Platform III Republic were detained in Baku.
The police said they had found the foreign currency during searches in their apartments.
In particular, 60,000 euros were found at Alasgar Mammadli's apartment.
A bit later, however, the investigation stated that A.
Mammadli was charged with smuggling of foreign currency in the amount of 7,300 euros.
In this context, Mr.
Aqil Lahij, a lawyer, pointed out to the journalists, "It is interesting that following the search at the apartment of Mammadli's wife, the police announced that "60 thousand euros were found".
But it seems that the police changed their minds and reduced the amount to 7,300 euros for the sake of ‘plausibility'".
But A.
Mammadli stated that the money did not belong to him, but rather was placed by the police officers.
On 11 March 2024, the management of Toplum TV released a statement in which they categorically rejected all accusations and claimed that the money had been planted by the police.
According to Aqil Lahij, a lawyer, his client has serious health issues, "He has tumors in his throat, rectum and prostate that require immediately surgical operation.
He was detained at the time when he was leaving the "Istanbul" clinic where he was undergoing a biopsy." The EU criticized the Azerbaijani authorities for cracking down on the staff of Toplum TV. 63
