The Bar Association issued a statement regarding the arrested lawyer Elchin Sadigov.

According to the report given to APA by the collegium, the statement reads:

"The Presidium of the Bar Association of the Republic of Azerbaijan states that the Bar Association is a completely independent institution and interference in its activities in one way or another is not allowed.

The arrest of lawyer Elchin Sadigov is not related to his professional legal defense activities.

We strongly condemn the manipulation of persons who are politicized in connection with this issue, who serve other interests that do not meet the general interests of the bar, and the organization of campaigns against the legal interests of the bar.

Such manipulations harm the institution of independent advocacy."

The Bar Association invites lawyers to be careful, not to declare or publish this or other inaccurate information, and not to create a false impression of the legal profession in the society.

The Presidium notes that the issue of the lawyer's arrest is in the center of its attention, and requests that questions be addressed directly to the Office of the Presidium.

It should be noted that, according to the information released by the General Prosecutor's Office, the trial of Zeynalov Avaz Tapdig oghlu, the former chairman of the supervisory board of Baku Steel Company, who is an official and the general director of "Khural Yayinlari" Limited Liability Company, is currently being prosecuted in the Baku Serious Crimes Court. In August 2022, with the mediation of his defender Sadigov Elchin Ali oghlu, reasonable suspicions were established that Rasim Mammadov received 20,000 manats as a bribe from his relatives.

Based on the collected preliminary evidence, Zeynalov Avaz Tapdig oglu was charged under Article 311.3.3 of the Criminal Code and Sadigov Elchin Ali oglu was charged under Article 32.5, 311.3.3 of the Criminal Code (assistance in receiving large bribes) was announced and a 4-month preventive measure was chosen by the decision of the Binagadi District Court.