Georgian journalist Lazo Lazareishvili asks for temporary asylum in Azerbaijan

Georgian journalist Lazo Lazareishvili, the editor of the newspaper "Metro", asked President Ilham Aliev for temporary asylum in Azerbaijan. This was reported by Lazo Lazareishvili at today's press conference at the office of the Institute of Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS) in Baku. Administration of the Azerbaijani Presidential still does not comment on the statement of the journalist, and the Georgian Embassy in Azerbaijan has reported that the allegations of Lazo Lazareishvili are unfounded.

According to Lazo Lazareishvili, his request for temporary asylum in Azerbaijan was caused by pressure in Georgia, put on him in connection with his filing of complaints to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). The complaints are related to the arrest in September 2009 and sentence to 9 months of imprisonment on charges of "abuse of power", the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

The arrest of Lazo Lazareishvili was preceded by the investigation of the situation in the judicial and legal system of Georgia, conducted by the newspaper "Metro". The investigation revealed initiation of about 30 criminal cases against independent arbitrators the lawyers engaged in consideration of economic disputes.

According to the journalist, Georgia has a practice of consideration of economic disputes by independent arbitrators by mutual agreement of the parties. According to Lazo Lazareishvili, "the pressure on arbitrators was put to assign the functions of considering economic disputes to a British company." "Although, ultimately this intention was not carried out," the journalist has added.

Lazo Lazareishvili himself, being a lawyer by profession, also acted as arbitrator, combining that activity with journalism. However, during one of the considerations, the party dissatisfied with the arbitrator's decision, filed a complaint against Lazo Lazareishvili not only to the civil court, but also to the prosecutor's office.

However, Lazo Lazareishvili was arrested and spent 9 months in custody. Finally, the court sentenced him to the same period of imprisonment a fine amounting to 5000 laris (about 2000 US dollars) and released the journalist (the period of pre-trial detention was counted for the period of imprisonment).

In connection with a criminal prosecution, Lazo Lazareishvili has filed two complaints to the ECtHR against the unlawful arrest and the very sentence. Both complaints were accepted for consideration. However, the journalist's desire to seek justice at the ECtHR caused pressure on him.

"I am constantly pursued by unidentified men, who warn me that if I do not revoke my complaint, it will be worse. They introduce themselves as police officers. I appealed to the General Inspectorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA); however, in 15 minutes, those people reappeared with their threats," Lazo Lazareishvili states.

He expects to receive a temporary asylum in Azerbaijan till the ECtHR obliges the Georgian authorities to provide the security guarantees to the journalist.

He is in Baku since January 4.

"On my way in the train to Baku, I have written an email to the President of Azerbaijan," Lazo Lazareishvili said. He has added that he had not yet received an answer to his appeal. He has noted that on the other day he would write an official appeal addressed to the President of Azerbaijan.

Comments from the administration of the President of Azerbaijan are still unavailable.

Officials from the Georgian Embassy in Azerbaijan have reported that they do not know a man named Lazo Lazareishvili and that his allegations are unfounded. "Georgia is a democratic country, and no one is being prosecuted there for his professional activities," the Embassy stated, the "APA" reports.