Was the former chief of Baku airport security service spying on Ilham Aliyev?

A preliminary court hearing on the case of Suleymanov and a group of former officials of the Security Service of the airport and the Ministry of National Security of Azerbaijan started in the Court of Grave Crimes, chaired by judge Mursal Aliyev on January 30.

The defendants are Emil Suleymanov, colonel-lieutenant of the Ministry of National Security Rafet Aliyev, as well as the officials of the airport, including Tahir Asadzade (electronic engineer), Faik Guliyev (AZAL programmer), Tamerlan Mikailov (chief of operative service).

They face charges under article 228 (illegal storing, selling, carrying of weapons, guns and explosive substances), 274 (high treason), 302 (violation of the law on criminal investigation) and 308 (abuse of powers).

Emil Suleymanov, as a main respondent, is accused of the communication of confidential information to the Russian intelligence services. State prosecutor Togrul Guseynov asked the court to ensure a private court hearing on the case, as it is connected with state secrets. The preliminary court hearing will continue on January 31.

Echo reports with reference to Turan agency that bugs were detected in the governmental hall of the airport, where Ilham Aliyev held meetings with government members before leaving the country.

The investigation revealed participation of officials of the airport's Security Service and E.Suleymanov in their installation.

Suleymanov was a career officer of the former Committee for State Security, educated in Russia.

Before the work in the airport he had been a chief of one of the departments of counter-espionage under the Ministry of National Security of Azerbaijan.

He also occupied the same position in the Department of military counter-espionage.

It should be reminded that former Ambassador of Azerbaijan in the UN Eldar Guliyev was also accused of cooperation with Russian intelligence services.

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Chief of AZAL Aviation Security Service faces charges of high treason