A year passes since assassination of General Rail Rzayev

Republic Military Prosecutor’s Office launched criminal case on the fact on articles 120.2.5 (deliberate murder committed on mercenary prompting or by order, as well as with a view of use a body of a victim) and 228 (illegal purchase, transfer, selling, storage, transportation or carrying of fire-arms, accessories to it, supplies (except for the smooth-bore hunting weapon and ammunition to it), explosives) of the Criminal Code.

Several months later, Rail Rzayev’s aide Aydin Rafiyev, his son Anar Rafiyev and several high-ranking servicemen were arrested. The investigative group of the Grave Crime Investigation Office of the Republican Prosecutor’s Office searched the Rafiyev’s house and Mitsubishi Pajero owned by his family. They found Rzayev’s jacket and license number of his car in the Rafiyev’s car. The defendants said the registration number 10 00 HM owned by Defense Ministry and general’s winter jacket, which were found in the car, had been given by Bakhtiyar Alasgarov, personal driver of Rail Rzayev, to Aydin Rafiyev for returning to the ministry. Rafiyev did not hand them over to the Defense Ministry, as he was on leave.

Prosecutor General Zakir Garalov told journalists in October that soon after Rail Rzayev’s assassination there was illegal interference in his office and some material evidences were stolen. Garalov underlined that Aydin Rafiyev and several others participated in hiding the illegal acts and were arrested for that. Prosecutor General added that it was being investigated whether the detainees directly participated in the assassination.

Anar Rafiyev faced charges under articles 177 (robbery) and 179 (embezzlement) and court sentenced him to two months in jail. The other detained servicemen were released after several months.

The investigation of the criminal case on Aydin Rafiyev and Anar Rafiyev has been completed. The criminal case will be sent to court soon.

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