18:00, 17 October 2009

TV producer from Georgia asks political asylum in Russia

Badri Afanasiev, producer of the Georgian TV Channel "Imedi", has applied to Russia for political asylum.

"On October 15, at 11:00 Moscow time, at the check post "Yarag-Kazmalyar", located in the Magaramkent District of Dagestan, Badri Afanasiev, a citizen of Georgia, who had arrived from the territory of Azerbaijan, "applied for granting political asylum to the Frontier Department of the FSB," said a source from the Dagestan FSB.

"For some time past, Afanasiev worked as producer with the 'Imedi' Georgian TV Channel. According to his story, still when Badri Patarkatsishvili (businessman and owner of the TV Channel, died in February 2008), he was persecuted for his links with the opposition," the "Gazeta.Ru" quotes the source from the local FSB Department.

The Bureau has noted, as the IA "Trend" reports, the Afanasiev's petition will be considered as prescribed by the Russian legislation.