19:40, 9 February 2018

Afghan Mukhtarly returned to SIZO before term

Afghan Mukhtarly near the building of the court. May 2017. Photo: REUTERS/Aziz Karimov

The early return of the journalist Afgan Mukhtarly into custody is associated by his defence with his interviews, in which he accused the authorities of Azerbaijan and Georgia of his kidnapping.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on February 5, one of Mukhtarly's advocates asked to release his client from custody to take part in the funeral of the journalist's sister and his nephews. However, the court dismissed the motion. On 8 February, Mukhtarly was granted a two-day leave to participate in the commemoration of his deceased relatives.

On January 12, a court in Azerbaijan sentenced Mukhtarly to six years in prison on charges of illegally crossing the border, contraband and resisting a power agent by using violence.

Mukhtarly was granted a leave until February 10, but today he was hurried returned to the SIZO (pre-trial prison), Nemat Kerimli, his advocate, has reported.

"Afghan is being returned to the SIZO; they couldn't even tolerate his second day at large," Leyla Mustafaeva, the journalist's wife, who is now in Germany, wrote in her Facebook.

"My arrest was a political order; it was a kidnapping," Mr Mukhtarly had earlier told the "Turan" News Agency.

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

Author: Faik Medjid

Source: CK correspondent