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Two former employees of Special State Protection Service have today held a press conference, bringing claims against their former employer. During the meeting Asif Latifov and Seymur Alijanov brought serious charges against their command headquarters. The officers were fired in 2011 and 2007 respectively, but claim that they were unfairly and illegally dismissed.



Asif Latifov said that they were dismissed after exposing corruption at the Protection Service, which is responsible for guaranteeing the safety of the President of Azerbaijan, as well as providing security for state bodies and other institutions. For 17 years prior to his dismissal, Latifov worked as Junior Lieutenant of the 'Betta' group of the Protection Service. Latifov says that after Fikrat Rzayev was appointed as chief to the Service, his problems increased. Latifov alleges that Rzayev is a relative of Baylar Ayyubov, the head of the presidential security team. In March 2011 Latifov was dismissed from his position for non-compliance.His dismissal under this Article prevents him from applying for another job.



When chief of the Service Vagif Akhundov received Latifov at his office, he accused Aliyev of sabotage. "They claim that I sent a message of congratulations to National Security Ministry head Eldar Mahmudov during a holiday for National Security Ministry employees," said Latifov.



"I am appealing to the president of the Republic of Azerbaijan to inform him that he is being deceived. Vagif Akhundov is failing to provide him with proper protection. Why? Because he has dismissed all the professional staff - including us - and replaced them with his relatives." [Latifov]



So far, Latifov has not received the written order outlining his dismissal, through which he would be able to appeal to the Court. The former officer claims that pressures against him and his family are continuing, under which his brother has also been dismissed from his job.



Seymur Alijanov reports that he was also dismissed under the same charges in 2007. As a result, his family life collapsed. Mr Alijanov has never been provided with the grounds for his dismissal, a clear violation of his civil rights.



Human rights defender Alakbar Mammadov has concluded that there are mass violations of laws and endemic corruption in the Service, suggesting that there is a culture of non-professionalism.



At the time of the writing, the facts of this case have not yet been verified by the State Protection Service.