In Azerbaijan, BCA leaves Mirkadyrov in custody

The Baku Court of Appeal (BCA) has dismissed the complaint lodged by journalist Rauf Mirkadyrov against the extension of his arrest by five months. The journalist's defence believes that his rights have been "flagrantly violated".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Rauf Mirkadyrov, an observer for the Russian-language newspaper "Zerkalo" (Mirror) was accused of espionage in favour of Armenia. The journalist denies the accusations; and his prosecution was condemned by his colleagues and international human rights organizations. On November 20, his defenders stated that, although the journalist's arrest had expired on November 19, Mirkadyrov was not released. Later it became known that on November 20, Judge Elman Isaev from the Nasimi District Court satisfied the prosecutors' motion and extended Rauf Mirkadyrov's custody by five other months. His defence has filed an appeal against this decision.

"We believe that Rauf Mirkadyrov's rights have been flagrantly infringed. He was kept behind bars for over a day, while the term of his arrest expired on November 19. Moreover, while he has his own advocates, the investigator appointed an advocate for him at his own discretion," the lawyer Elmar Suleimanov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Another advocate, Fuad Agaev, said that the extension of Mirkadyrov's custody was ungrounded.

"During all these months of arrest, investigators failed to present at least a single fact of his spying activities. The journalist has repeatedly stated that he had committed no treachery and demanded to stop the case against him," Agaev told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.