06 June 2017, 14:25
In Baku, BCA leaves journalist Afghan Mukhtarly in custody
The Baku Court of Appeal (BCA) has dismissed the complaint filed by advocates against the arrest of journalist Afghan Mukhtarly. The defence intends to file new motions seeking the change of the pre-trial restriction measure.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 31, the Sabail District Court of Baku pronounced the decision to arrest Afghan Mukhtarly for three months.
The journalist was accused of violating the state border, smuggling and resisting a border guard. The human rights organization "Amnesty International" recognized Afghan Mukhtarly as a "prisoner of conscience."
"The court has dismissed the complaint without any explanations, like the motion to change the pre-trial restriction measure for house arrest," noted advocate Osman Kyazimov.
According to him, Afghan Mukhtarly has repeatedly reported that he was kidnapped in Georgia and transported to Azerbaijan
through border checkpoints in the Lagodekhi District of Georgia and the Balakan District of Azerbaijan.
Elchin Sadygov, another advocate of Afghan Mukhtarly, also reported about the transfer of the criminal case against his client from the State Border Service (SBS) of Azerbaijan to the Investigating Department for Grave Crimes of the General Prosecutor's Office of Azerbaijan.
On the day before, the advocate was not allowed to visit Afghan Mukhtarly. According to Elchin Sadygov, today, he has talked to the journalist in the courtroom. The advocate has stated that Afghan Mukhtarly informed him about pains under his rib got as a result of the beating after his kidnapping in Tbilisi.
Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.
Author: Faik Medzhid Source: CK correspondent
