"The Georgian authorities must immediately cease their attempts to extradite Afgan Sadygov – in line with their obligations under international law and the requirements of the principle of non-refoulement – and provide him and his wife with international protection if they have requested it," states Amnesty International in response to the arrest and extradition detention of Azerbaijani journalist and Azel.TV editor Afgan Sadygov in Georgia.
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Amnesty International's Deputy Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Denis Krivosheev, stated that extraditing Afgan Sadygov to Azerbaijan would expose him to serious human rights violations, including torture, arbitrary detention, and denial of a fair trial.
Krivosheev noted that Sadigov's case reflects a broader trend of suppressing independent media in Azerbaijan, a situation that has intensified ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 29) scheduled to be held in Baku in November. Amnesty International has documented numerous instances of independent journalists, activists, and human rights defenders being arrested on false charges in Azerbaijan leading up to the conference.
Amnesty International is also calling on Azerbaijani authorities to end politically motivated persecution of journalists and other government critics and to immediately release those detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression.
Afgan Sadygov was arrested on August 3 by criminal police officers on the street in Tbilisi, in the presence of his wife and children. On August 4, a judge sentenced him to three months of extradition detention. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Sadygov is wanted in Azerbaijan for threats and extortion. He will remain in prison pending a final decision on extradition. Lawyer Dimitri Nozadze has indicated that the journalist is seeking asylum in Georgia.
Sevinch Sadygova believes her husband is being prosecuted for criticizing the Azerbaijani government and is being detained on orders from President Ilham Aliyev. About two weeks before his arrest, the family attempted to leave for Turkey, but Georgian border guards denied Sadigov entry at Tbilisi International Airport, informing him that he could only return to Azerbaijan.
Sadigov has been residing in Georgia since December 24, 2023. As his lawyer says, a criminal case was initiated against him in Azerbaijan in May without his knowledge.
On this topic:
IPI Urges Georgian Government to Reject Azerbaijan's Request for Journalist Afgan Sadygov
