Azerbaijani oppositionist detained in Georgia seeks asylum

Dashgyn Agalarov, a member of the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF) of Azerbaijan was detained in Georgia. Azerbaijan has initiated his extradition procedure, while Georgian rights defenders demand to provide him with political asylum, as Nana Kakabadze, the head of the NGO "Former Political Prisoners for Human Rights", told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Information on the detention of Dashgyn Agalarov appeared in the media on July 11.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed by a source from law enforcement bodies of Georgia that Dashgyn Agalarov, a member of the NCDF, was detained back in early March at the entrance to Georgia from Turkey. The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) did it at the request of the Prosecutor's Office of Azerbaijan, which incriminates Agalarov with a tax evasion amounting to 4500 euros.

"Dashgyn Agalarov is kept in a prison in Georgia for four months. We believe that he is a politician, and his persecution by Azerbaijani authorities is carried out for political reasons," Ms Kakabadze told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to her version, Agalarov has already appealed to President of Georgia for political asylum.