Does Azerbaijan need no principle lawyers?

The Bar Association is not able to take their own decisions, Aslan Ismaylov, well-known lawyer, said in an interview with Objective TV, commenting his exclusion from the Bar Association.

According to him, the reason is that over the last two years he focuses on illegal activities and corruption by Ramiz Mehdiyev, the Head of the Administration of the President. Lawyer is sure that he was removed from the Board on direct order from Mehdiyev.

“According to Disciplinary Commission, it turns out that I violate the requirements of the law, bully and disgrace this structure. The problem of any law-abiding citizen, including a lawyer, that he cannot remain silent seeing lawlessness, corruption and bribery. I’m not going to be anyone’s slave and a blind performer will of others orders,” said the lawyer.

Ismailov had once been suspended from membership of the Board (1999), it happened after his week-long meetings in Congress and the U.S. Senate, where he described the detailed scheme of offenses in Azerbaijan. After that, he worked on the basis of a special license, but the Cabinet of Minister abolished this kind of advocacy. 

Membership of Ismaylov in the Bar Association, was restored in 2005 after his personal meeting with President Ilham Aliyev, the president asked where the state of affairs. After that, the leadership of the Bar Association called him back and returned the right to appear in court on criminal matters. Now he is charged, almost in the attack on the judge when performing official functions.

Ismaylov is optimistic and believes that competent and honest lawyer has a steady income. With regard to the disciplinary committee and the leadership of the Bar, he will appeal against their decision to demand justice in the national and international laws.

This post is also available in: Russian