Georgian authorities demand from Azerbaijani rights defender Iskenderov to leave Georgia

The Georgian authorities ask Vidadi Iskenderov, who had received political asylum in the country, to leave Georgia because of Azerbaijan's demands, the rights defender himself has stated; however, the Georgian Ministry for Refugees' Matters has denied this information.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 29, Azerbaijani journalist Afghan Mukhtarly disappeared in Tbilisi. On May 30, he told his advocate Nemat Kerimli that he had been brought to Baku.

"I am the only citizen of Azerbaijan who received political asylum in Georgia; and a few days ago I was summoned to the Ministry for Refugees, Displaced Persons and Resettlement of Georgia, where I was asked to leave the country," Mr Iskenderov said.

In his opinion, this demand has to do with media publications that Azerbaijani oppositionists are in Georgia in order to organize a revolution in Azerbaijan.

"Georgia has fallen between two fires: on the one hand, democracy, and on the other hand, the neighbouring country with an authoritarian regime," said Iskenderov.

Let us remind you that on August 27, 2011, Iskenderov was sentenced to 3 years in prison in the case of interference into the voting process at the parliamentary elections on November 7, 2010, where he ran for an MP in the Goychay District.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.