Ilkin Amrahov – member of the Institute for Democratic Initiatives Date of arrest: 6 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 Ilkin Amrahov 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 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.
Among them was Ilkin Amrahov.
As his lawyer Rovshana Rahimova later told the journalists, Ilkin Amrahov was subjected to pressure by the police following his detention, "The young man was not allowed to contact his family in order to inform them about his detention.
During the search at the apartment his parents were locked in one of the rooms.
Afterwards, €2,700 were "found" in the apartment and Amrakhov was forced to admit that the money belonged to him.
Ilkin denies the accusation of smuggling.
He 65 doesn't even own a passport, he hasn't been abroad, and according to the Article, "smuggling" assumes illegal importation of funds into the country.
Moreover, Ilkin was interrogated until 11 p.m., while he had a high temperature and suffered from a severe pain in the throat".
As soon as the appointed lawyer left, the investigator handed him another testimony to sign, not letting him read it, and Rahimova emphasized, "He said that because of the fever, the young man did not remember what he had said at all.
Ilkin said that he renounced the primary testimony written down in the case file.
He also said that he could not understand the accusation at all and disagreed with it.
Nevertheless, the Court arrested him for four months; the ruling will be appealed”.
The EU criticized the Azerbaijani authorities for cracking down on the staff of Toplum TV and Platform III Republic.
