23 October 2017, 19:09
Court leaves Afghan Mukhtarly in custody
In Azerbaijan, the Court of Appeal has dismissed the complaint filed by journalist Afghan Mukhtarly about extension of his arrest.
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.
Today, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent has been informed by Zibeida Sadygova, an advocate of the journalist, that the complaint about extension of his arrest was considered by the Baku Court of Appeal (BCA).
"The Court has ignored our arguments that there is no need to keep Afghan Mukhtarly in custody, since he does not consider himself guilty, and, on the contrary, he intends to seek punishment for those who are involved in his kidnapping in Tbilisi and arrest in Azerbaijan. We have also requested the Court to release Afghan Mukhtarly from custody at least for humanitarian reasons, since his health state deteriorated in the SIZO (pre-trial prison). He needs a qualified cardiological examination and medical treatment. However, at the SIZO, there are no conditions for that," Zibeida Sadygova said.
According to the advocate, her client himself has stated he is being discriminated at the SIZO. "Afghan Mukhtarly has stated he is not allowed to take full advantage of the right to phone conversations. Earlier, he could call his wife at least once a week. Meanwhile, recently, he is not allowed calling her at all. However, the law provides my client has the right to make 15-minute calls twice a week," the advocate noted.
Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.
Author: Faik Medzhid Source: CK correspondent
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