Iran refuses to release Azerbaijani scientist on bail

Iranian investigators refused to release Azerbaijani scientist  Rashid Aliyev on bail, chairman of the committee to protect Rashid Aliyev and director of the Laser Scientific-Research Centre Soltanhamid Malikov said.

Iran’s Sazan Electronics Industry Company, which Rashid Aliyev was working for, submitted necessary documents, but they didn’t accept bail and refused to release Rashid Aliyev.

Recently Aliyev phoned to his family and said that the investigators agreed to set him free on bail for $100, 000.

Iran’s Sazan Electronics Industry Company had agreed to pay bail.

Malikov said government organizations and international human rights defenders also took interest in Aliyev’s case.

“There is yet no result toward releasing of Rashid Aliyev, but we are continuing our efforts. We hope for positive results of the negotiations between the governments of Azerbaijan and Iran”.

Rashid Aliyev, the leading engineer of the lab of Physical Problems Institute of Baku State University, worked in Sazan Electronics Industry Company in 2006-2008 at the invitation of the company.

He worked in Semnan city of Iran and led the first installation and exploitation of automatic program controlled technological laser system, preparation of perfect experience for modern laser systems and test stand.

The company offered permanent job to Aliyev for many times, but he didn’t accept it and returned to Azerbaijan.

Rashid Aliyev last returned to Iran on Oct. 5 after insistent invitation by the company’s director Abbas Eftekhari.

On Oct. 6, he was arrested because of alleged visa problems.

Iranian officials have not explained the reason for Aliyev's arrest.

/APA/