What’s behind ex-deputy defense minister’s arrest?

Salimov served as deputy defense minister for "work with the staff” (head of the ministry department for political and educational work) between 1995 and 1999.

 

The fact that he was arrested by the grave crimes department of the Prosecutor-General’s Office and not by the Military Prosecutor’s Office shows that prosecutors are focusing on Salimov’s post-ministry activities.

The Prosecutor-General’s Office said in a statement that Salimov had been charged under Article 179.3.2 (large-scale embezzlement) and Article 308.2 (abuse of office) of the Criminal Code.

Retired army officers Ayaz Mammadov and Uzeyir Cafarov have commented on the high-profile arrest.

   

Mammadov said Salimov was involved not only in large-scale embezzlement of state funds but also in smaller thefts. He would sell Heydar Aliyev’s portraits to military units for 100,000 manat. His arrested may well have been connected with crimes he committed while in office, Mammadov said. 

In an interview with Haqqin.az, the retired colonel said that the arrest may have come as a revenge attack by the current defense minister, Zakir Hasanov, who is aware that Mehman Salimov is collecting evidence to support his former boss, Safar Abiyev, and discredit the current minister.

Military analyst Uzeyir Cafarov says that Salimov gave an interview to opposition newspaper Hurriyat in 1999, saying that the chief of the army staff, Nacmaddin Sadiqov, wants to become defense minister. 

In an emergency meeting of the ministry board the following day, former President Heydar Aliyev forced Salimov to resign, Cafarov said.  

Salimov has since run a small business, producing trash bags.

"I know Salimov as an honest and brave man who fought in Karabakh,” Cafarov said.