22 November 2014, 18:11
Azerbaijan: Mirkadyrov's custody extended by 5 months
The detention of the Azerbaijani journalist Rauf Mirkadyrov, accused of treason, was extended already after the official expiration of his arrest, which is a violation of the law, his advocates assert.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Rauf Mirkadyrov, an observer of the Russian-language edition "Zerkalo" (Mirror), was accused of espionage in favour of Armenia.
On Saturday, his defenders reported that on November 20 Elman Isaev, Judge of the Nasimi District Court, satisfied the investigators' motion and ruled to extend Mirkadyrov's custody by other five months.
"It happened at the time, when my colleague Elmar Suleimanov and I vainly sought clarification from law enforcement bodies about the fate of Rauf Mirkadyrov and the reasons for his non-release, and when we were not allowed to see the journalist, claiming that he was visiting a doctor," said the lawyer Fuad Agaev.
In his opinion, Mirkadyrov's right to defence was violated.
In his turn, Elmar Suleimanov, another Mirkadyrov's advocate, said that there is no need to keep the journalist in custody.
The defenders have added that they would make a decision to appeal against the extension of the custody only after they meet Mirkadyrov himself.
Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.
Author: Faik Medzhid Source: CK correspondent
