16:40, 25 April 2014

Azerbaijani CoA rules to leave journalist Rauf Mirkadyrov in custody

The Baku Court of Appeal. Photo by Aziz Karimov for the "Caucasian Knot"

The Baku Court of Appeal (CoA) has refused to change the freedom restraint measure of journalist Rauf Mirkadyrov, who had challenged his arrest on charges of treason. The journalist's lawyer has treated the CoA's ruling as illegal.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Rauf Mirkadyrov, an observer of the Russian-language Azerbaijani newspaper "Zerkalo" (Mirror) was detained by Turkish authorities because of expired documents and deported to Azerbaijan on April 19; and on April 20 he was placed into the SIZO (pre-trial prison) of the Ministry of National Security (MNS) on suspicion of treason.

On April 22, Fuad Agaev, a Mirkadyrov's advocate, appealed against the court's decision to arrest the journalist.

Fuad Agaev said that at the court session his client categorically denied the charges of spying for Armenia. According to his story, the defence will take new measures to protect Mirkadyrov's rights and plans to advance new petitions, including against the freedom restriction measure.

The arrest of the well-known journalist immediately after his expulsion from Turkey shows signs of a coordinated operation that violates the international law, says the statement issued by the Human Rights Watch.

Author: Faik Medzhid

Source: CK correspondent