22 October 2017, 01:13
Advocate Sadygov states violation of his rights by SIZO staff
On October 21, advocate Elchin Sadygov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that at Baku SIZO-1 (pre-trial prison), some investigative actions had been carried out on the case of the journalist Afghan Mukhtarly.
"The indictment was somewhat amended, but the charges are the same, just the description was somewhat extended... Afghan Mukhtarly has again categorically rejected all the charges brought against him," said Sadygov.
According to his story, Mukhtarly repeated that his arrest was caused by his investigative journalism about corruption in Azerbaijan.
Afghan Mukhtarly, who left for Georgia in 2014, disappeared in Tbilisi on May 29. On May 30, he phoned his advocate and reported that he had been forcibly brought to Baku. On May 31, in Baku, the court arrested Afghan Mukhtarly for three months. The journalist was charged with violating the state border, smuggling and resisting a border guard. Afghan Mukhtarly denies the charges filed against him.
Elchin Sadygov also said that the confidentiality of his contacts at the SIZO with Mukhtarly, his client, was violated.
"My meeting with him was monitored by warders. Moreover, when I was leaving the SIZO, they took away my 'Book of Advocate's Records' and studied my records made at the meeting with Mukhtarly. I protested and pointed out the illegality of such actions against the advocate," Mr Sadygov has stated, adding that he intends to urge "the country's leadership, the General Prosecutor's Office, the Ombudsperson and the Bar Association to inquire into this lawlessness."
Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.
Author: Faik Medzhid Source: CK correspondent