ECtHR completes communication on Rauf Mirkadyrov's complaint

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has completed communication on the complaint filed by Azerbaijani journalist Rauf Mirkadyrov against his arrest, which preceded the sentencing. The journalist also intends to appeal against the actions of the government of Turkey, which deported him to Azerbaijan, despite the threat of his arrest.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Rauf Mirkadyrov was accused of espionage for Armenia. In December 2015, the court sentenced him to six years of imprisonment in a high-security penal colony. In March 2016, the court of appeal replaced the actual sentence with conditional punishment.

According to advocate Fuad Agaev, the complaint raises the question for recognizing the violation of the Rauf Mirkadyrov's rights guaranteed by Article 5 (the right to freedom and personal inviolability) of the European Convention on Human Rights.

"The version voiced by investigators was not based on serious facts. It was based solely on the fact that Rauf Mirkadyrov visited Armenia within the framework of civil society projects. However, he never concealed the above fact. After his trips, Rauf Mirkadyrov prepared journalistic articles," explained the advocate.

According to him, Rauf Mirkadyrov will also appeal against the actions of the Turkish authorities, which deported him to Azerbaijan.

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