Journalist Rauf Mirkadyrov rejects accusation of treason

After the court hearing, family members and advocates of Azerbaijani journalist Rauf Mirkadyrov have declared his innocence.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Rauf Mirkadyrov, an observer of the Russian-language newspaper "Zerkalo" (The Mirror) in Azerbaijan, is accused of espionage in favour of Armenia. The criminal case against Rauf Mirkadyrov is being considered by the Baku Court of Grave Crimes.

Today, despite the fact that the court hearings in the criminal case are being held behind closed doors, the courthouse has been approached by colleagues of the journalists and activists, about 20 people in total.

According to advocate Fuad Agaev, advocates and witnesses "signed a recognizance not to disclose the materials of the investigation and the content of the trial in order to protect state secrets." In this regard, Fuad Agaev has noted that during the court hearing, the Court "has read out the indictment and dismissed the defence motion."

The next court hearing is scheduled for November 25, an official from the Baku Court of Grave Crimes reports.

The mother of journalist Rauf Mirkadyrov believes that her son has been "wrongly accused".

The colleagues of the journalist associate the criminal proceedings against him with his professional activities. On November 12, the Azerbaijani Committee for Protection of Civil Society initiated a collection of signatures under the online petition demanding to release Rauf Mirkadyrov from arrest. As at 7:30 p.m. Moscow time of November 18, the petition was signed by 249 people.

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