(Washington, DC) - (Washington, DC) – Rep. Gary L. Ackerman (D-Queens/L.I.) today helped introduce H.Con.Res.183, calling on the government of the Republic of Azerbaijan to immediately release brothers Farhad and Rafiq Aliyev from detention and assure their right to a fair and open trial. Ackerman, along with Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI) and Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL), cited the Aliyev case as a shocking example of the Azerbaijani government’s disregard for international rule of law.

“Azerbaijan has something of a history with politically-motivated arrests and the continued use of this tactic to silence government critics is deeply dissapointing.  I'm very concerned that with regard to the Aliyev case, the Azerbaijani government seems to be more interested to discrediting and removing its political opponents rather than pursuing any kind of real criminal justice.”said Ackerman.

Farhad Aliyev, the former Azerbaijani Minister of Economic Development, is being held for allegedly planning a coup d’etat.  Rafiq Aliyez, former President of the oil company AzPetrol, is being held for allegedly failing to declare foreign currency in his possession prior to an international flight from Baku airport.  Although both men were arrested on October 19, 2005, an indictment against them was not presented until May 1, 2007.  International human rights monitoring groups have reported that the Aliyevs have been denied sufficient time and resources to review evidence and prepare adequately for trial and have been not been permitted to see their international legal representatives. Likewise, Farhad Aliyev has reportedly suffered a number of hypertensive strokes during his imprisonment and has not been afforded proper medical care.

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