Sacked Azerbaijani Health Minister Arrested

21 October 2005 -- Authorities in Azerbaijan today confirmed the arrest of recently sacked Health Minister Ali Insanov, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reported..

Authorities accuse Insanov, who was dismissed yesterday, of involvement in an attempted coup.


Earlier this week, Azerbaijani authorities arrested former Economy Minister Farhad Aliyev and his brother Rafiq on charges of conspiring with exiled opposition leader Rasul Quliyev to incite unrest and seize power.


Quliyev was released yesterday from detention in Ukraine. He was detained on 17 October at Azerbaijan's request while reportedly seeking to travel to Baku for parliamentary elections. Azerbaijan accuses him of embezzlement, which he denies.


(RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service/AP)