Georgian authorities cancel decision to deport Azerbaijani activist Agalarov

The Department of Migration of the Georgia Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has informed Dashgyn Agalarov about the cancellation of the decision on his deportation a day before the expiry of the term in which he was obliged to leave the country, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in early March 2014, Dashgyn Agalarov (Agalarly), a member of the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF) of Azerbaijan, was detained when he was leaving Turkey for Georgia. The Georgian MIA arrested Dashgyn Agalarov at the request of the Azerbaijani Prosecutor's Office, which accused him of tax evasion. On May 8, 2017, Dashgyn Agalarov was ordered to leave Georgia within a month.

"I faced deportation already on June 10. However, on June 8, I was informed about the cancellation of the decision on my deportation. I have been given a document under which I can stay in Georgia for another year and move around the country. I cannot travel to other countries under this document," Dashgyn Agalarov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The activist has noted that he expected such a decision.

"After the international scandal over the kidnapping of Afghan Mukhtarly, I have already assumed that I will not be deported. They would not expel two activists at once with a rush and, in particular, to give them out to the state where they are being persecuted. However, even after the decision on my deportation was cancelled, they did not return my passport, and that gives rise to some concern," Dashgyn Agalarov said.

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