Arif Babayev: "Bringing up Farhad Aliyev's health 'problems' is deliberate"

"The jail administration has always approved this initiative and provided conditions," Arif Babayev, head of public affairs center of National Security Ministry told the APA while commenting on recent reports that ex-minister Farhad Aliyev's health has been deteriorated. He said the media reports on the imprisoned former ministers' health base on subjective opinions most of all.

"Despite all these rumors and hearsays, we do our best to ensure their normal health condition. There is nothing critical in Farhad Aliyev's health. The first reports on Farhad Aliyev's bad health began to appear in November next year. But in fact, nothing critical was found on his health during the examination in the Central Clinical Hospital in December last year. Following that, lawyers for Farhad Aliyev and some newspapers began to declare of his health," Mr.Babayev said.

The center head said former high ranking official with large opportunities cannot feel well in a prison naturally. Babayev said by the ex-minister was checked up by Health Ministry chief cardiologist , Doctor of Medical Sciences Faig Guliyev by his own request on March 31 this year. He underwent a forensic medical examination on April 10 by the initiative of his lawyers. He was also checked up several times after that.

"The doctors arrived at a conclusion that there is no tendency to bad in Farhad Aliyev's health. I must state that these medical experts have been invited at the request of Farhad Aliyev and his lawyers not from the MNS. It seems bringing up Farhad Aliyev's health 'problems' is deliberate. He is treated like others. I assure you following my statement, the interested forces will seek for other diseases in Farhad Aliyev and spread 'sensational' reports," Babayev underlined.

MNS official said Farhad Aliyev, Akif Muradverdiyev, Ali Insanov and several other former officials were arrested on the criminal case launched by the Prosecutor's Office of Republic, and they are detained at the MNS. The treatment of any arrested is held by only a relevant medical establishment according to the legislation.