A preparatory hearing was held today at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes in the criminal case against Ramiz Mehdiyev, the former head of the Presidential Administration, and Eldar Amirov, his former aide.
According to a report by Operative Information Center-OMM, the hearing, chaired by Judge Murad Aslanov, included verification of the defendants’ personal details and an explanation of their procedural rights and obligations under the law.
The court created the necessary conditions for the defendants to exercise their right to defense and other procedural guarantees.
By a court decision, the criminal case was scheduled for trial.
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The trial of former Presidential Administration head Ramiz Mehdiyev began today.
According to Operative Information Center-OMM, the preparatory hearing in the criminal case was held at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes under the chairmanship of Judge Murad Aslanov.
It should be noted that the State Security Service opened a criminal case against Ramiz Mehdiyev in October 2025.
According to information released by the SSS, Azerbaijani citizens Ramiz Anvar oghlu Mehdiyev, Abbas Aydin oghlu Abbasov and Ali Amirhuseyn oghlu Karimli were detained as part of comprehensive measures taken by the State Security Service to prevent subversive activities carried out by foreign special services against Azerbaijan’s security and national interests.
Eldar Amirov, a former employee of the Presidential Administration, was also detained in November 2025 as part of the same criminal case.
According to the indictment, Abbas Abbasov Aydin oghlu and Rustam Ibrahim bayov Mammad Ibrahim oghlu, described as leaders of an organization registered abroad under the name “Union of Russian Azerbaijani Organizations” and known as the “Union of Billionaires,” as well as Ramiz Mehdiyev, Ali Karimli, chairman of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, party members Fuad Gahramanli and Gan gat Zayidov, and others allegedly conspired to seize state power by force and forcibly change the existing constitutional order.
The indictment says that in August-September 2025, Ramiz Mehdiyev submitted to Ali Karimli, through his aide Eldar Amirov and others, written material prepared in a foreign language under the title “Proposals on restructuring the state governance system” for coordination. On Oct. 3, 2025, he allegedly sent the final edited version of the document through employees of “Sharg-Garb” OJSC, and the transmission was technically recorded.
Ramiz Mehdiyev is accused of treason for colluding with the individuals named in the case and taking actions aimed at seizing state power with the assistance of foreign special services and forcibly changing the constitutional order, as well as providing representatives of a foreign state with assistance contrary to Azerbaijan’s state security interests.
The indictment also states that Ramiz Mehdiyev legalized more than 17 million manats in criminal proceeds during the period ending Oct. 13, 2025.
Mehdiyev was charged under Articles 193-1.3.2 (legalization of a considerable amount of property obtained through criminal means), 274 (treason) and 278.1 of the Criminal Code.
