Maharram Aliyev: "Haji Mammadov is only a principal offender but not the gang's head"

Chief of Baku Main Police Department, Lieutenant-General Maharram Aliyev gave an interview to APA exclusively.

- The recent crimes in Baku arouse conclusion that criminogenic situation in the capital cannot be controlled any longer. Do you think it is really difficult to bring criminogenic situation in the capital under control?

- I do not agree to raise the question in such way. You know that there are many refugees in Baku, there exist unemployment and other problems. I think it is natural, all countries worldwide face crimes. We regularly analyze crimes.

Just imagine deliberate manslaughter was 151 facts in 1992, 183 in 1995, 74 in 2004 and 70 in 2005. 68 percent of such crimes were revealed in the 90s but now 90 percent are revealed.

On the other hand, the crimes were used to be committed by fire-arms in that period, such facts have decreased now. On analyzing all these statistics, you can see that the reports that the criminogenic situation in the capital cannot be controlled are groundless.

But it is true that it is not right to assess criminogenic situation by increased or decreased number of crimes. I admit that there are some artificial problems. I am aware of that, and urgent preventive measures are being implemented now.

- Do you think the recent scandalous crimes can be considered as deliberate artificial obstacles?

- Of course. The gang (related to Haji Mammadov), which was involved in criminal activities for 10 years, was in high post in the law enforcement bodies during this period. And this factor created danger to our struggle against criminality. Though this danger was overcome, it did have negative impact on our work.

- There are some rumors that key members of Haji Mammadov-led gang have not yet been arrested , and the criminal network cannot possible be restricted to Zakir Nasirov.

- I do not want to touch on this issue. The investigation is being conducted by another law enforcement body. An official's opinion on this issue can be regarded as interference in the investigation. The details of the case are likely to be clear during trial.

But I think some nuances of this crime have not been investigated. There exist artificial obstacles to the revealing of the crime too. Truth will not be known unless the artificial obstacles are removed. The truth has not been revealed yet.

I have been conducting investigations into such grave crimes for many years. I think the revealed facts do not reflect truth.

- So, Haji Mammadov turns out to have fulfilled these crimes not just led?

- Who was Haji Mammadov? He was in the position of main commissioner for operation. So, he was a subordinate official. It is not right to call him the leader of the gang.

You know, an official holding a high post in interior affairs bodies must be honest, devoted to statehood, professional and educated. Regrettably, masked figures can hold high posts in life. The whole nation become subject to the bitter result of it.

Haji Mammadov's gang stroke a great blow to the image of Azerbaijan state. Very honest persons usually work for law enforcement bodies.
Sometimes, a criminal and the one fighting against crimes are regarded the same. This is injustice.

You are fighting crimes but false information is written about you. The organizers of these crimes once wrote that as if I and Javadagha Sultanov led these crimes.

They did not think who revealed most of these crimes. It was we who disclosed 90 out of 100 crimes. When I say we I mean Baku police department officers and the prosecutor's office of the city. For instance, the city prosecutor Adalet Mirsalamli is an honest and professional man. Our people should value such things. The people should differentiate bad from good.

- Surakhani district prosecutor Yusif Ildirimzadeh's flat was robbed several days ago…

- House-breakers are in every part of the world. Just imagine a house is robbed in every minute in Moscow. 365 house-breaking facts were observed in Baku in 2005, which are 60 facts more in comparison with 2004. Police are fighting such crimes. Preventive measures should be intensified. One thing is true that house-breakers do their works until they are arrested.

- What happened to those involved in the skirmish outside the Turkish Embassy several months ago? You had promised to punish police officers if they do not take necessary action about it.

- That incident has been revealed. The matter is the offender could escape. But we are sure to detain him. I have already punished the police officers whom I ordered to take action about that.

- The press often writes that you possess jewelry stores and these stores have been robbed.

-These are nonsense. I am not interested in such things. If anyone can prove that I own any jewelry store or any other stores I am ready to donate this store to him.

- There happens regular maniac syndrome in the capital. I think is difficult for you to detain these maniacs.

- It is quite immoral crime. Such offenders are professionals. They can hide skillfully. We are searching a maniac in the capital at present. There is one more similar fact. This is a closed crime, and necessary operations are conducted to detain him.

- What is the situation on fighting against abduction of children?

- I always said we should not feel easy after the neutralization of Haji Mammadov's gang. There happened nearly 100 facts on abduction of children. 10 or 12 of these crimes were committed by Haji Mammadov-led gang. But most of these facts are similar. I think other gangs involved on abduction had links with the neutralized gang of Haji Mammadov. However, this issues need to be investigated and proved.

- The parliament is discussing the bill on permitting use of dogs, horses, electroshocks and water cannons to disperse rallies. What do you think about it?

-  We have never used electroshock. The rest means are used. You know that criminals are modernizing their methods.

Therefore, police need to modernize some techniques and equipment. Police need to be ahead. Criminals now use the most up-to-date equipment.

The police lag behind in this context. For instance, if a criminal escapes in BMW, police should not chase him in Lada.

- The police prevent the recent protest actions in the capital with regard to the verdict on Azerbaijan army officer Ramil Safarov. This causes various reactions among people.

- Every matter should be solved in conformity with law. Unsanctioned rallies are unacceptable. Other forces might benefit form such rallies to achieve their aims. We cannot help Ramil Safarov by overturning two cars in the streets.

- We heard about possible staff reductions in police recently and they say this will be done in enforcement police.

- We made stuff reductions in enforcement police recently. But no one was dismissed. Simply, vacancies are replaced. We cannot dismiss an honest police officer. Some police officers are dismissed for their deficiencies or for their retirement ages.

- What is the situation on sending police officers into retirement?

- This issue is regulated under the law. Ordinary policemen retire when they are 50 years old, officers in 55 and generals when they are 60 years old. The Minister can send a professional police officer into retirement a little bit later.