 A former top aide to Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliev and the head of the country's largest chemical company have been arrested on charges of participating in a coup plot, authorities said Tuesday, in the latest wave of arrests targeting top government officials. A government statement said former chief of staff Akif Muradverdiyev and Azerkimya chemical company head Fikret Sadigov allegedly conspired in the plot along with key opposition figure Rasul Guliyev, and other top officials who have also been dismissed in recent days. Also sacked or arrested have been a former finance minister Fikret Yusifov, former economic development minister Fardakh Aliyev and former health minister Ali Insanov. |