Haji Mammadov takes blame for Elmar Husseynov killing, journalist's father does not believe

Police Colonel Haji Mammadov, who faces separate charges on contract hits and the kidnapping of relatives of businessmen, told the court he was also responsible for last year's slaying of Monitor magazine editor Elmar Husseynov.

"He said he eliminated Elmar on the orders of (former) economic development Minister Farkhad Aliyev," a lawyer for one of the defendants in the Mammadov case said on condition that his name not be used.

The lawyer said that he believed Mammadov had been pressured to confess to what he said was an "unrelated" crime in order to secure the release of his nephew, who has also been charged in relation to the gang's activities.

"Haji doesn't care anymore. To him it's one crime more or one crime less," the lawyer said.

Investigators have so far provided few insights into the Husseynov killing.

The case has been an embarrassment to the administration of President Ilham Aliyev, whose officials are constantly reminded of the unsolved murder during meetings with Western diplomats and rights groups.

Prosecutors were not available for comment overnight.

Both Mammadov and Farkhad Aliyev have been in prison since last year when they were jailed for their roles in separate cases that have until now not been linked to the Husseynov murder or each other.

Farkhad Aliyev is accused of orchestrating an attempt to overthrow the government of President Ilham Aliyev by financing a failed opposition "coup" ahead of parliamentary elections last November.

Sabir Husseynov, the father of Elmar Husseynov who was shot dead in his apartment building's stairwell last year, said he was not convinced that the former police colonel and the minister had organised his son's killing.

"It's too convenient. Both of them are already in prison. I don't think it's fair to put all the blame on Farkhad Aliyev. The authorities must find the real killers," Mr Husseynov said.

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