05:49, 20 July 2014

RWB condemns extension of Mirkadirov's arrest

The "Reporters without Borders" (RWB) has expressed its outrage about the extension of the pre-trial arrest of journalist Rauf Mirkadirov.

Let us remind you that on April 18, Rauf Mirkadirov, an observer of the Russian-language edition named "Zerkalo" (Mirror) was detained in Turkey and deported to Azerbaijan. On April 21, a Baku court sanctioned his arrest for three months on charges of treason committed in the form of espionage in favour of Armenia. On July 15, the court ruled to extend the detention of the journalist by four other months.

"By keeping Mirkadirov in custody, the politicized judicial system demonstrates that it was ordered to pursue the journalist," the edition named "contact.az" quotes Johann Beer, the RWB's head for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

"His only crime is in his independent opinion; and we again urge the authorities to drop the charges and release the journalist," Johann Beer said, in particular.

Earlier, Mirkadirov's arrest was condemned by the Committee to Protect Journalists.