Azerbaijani activist detained in Georgia

Avtandil Mamedov, an Azerbaijani citizen, has been detained in Georgia at the request of Baku. Azerbaijani human rights defenders fear that Mamedov will face arrest and torture in his homeland.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that activists, Avtandil Mamedov and Elchin Namazov, being in emigration, established the "Institute for the Protection of Rights and Freedoms" with the aim to inform international organizations about the human rights situation in Azerbaijan, as well as to support Azerbaijani immigrants in Georgia.

On June 17, Avtandil Mamedov was detained in Tbilisi, Ogtai Gyulyalyev, the head of the Centre for the Protection of Political Prisoners of Azerbaijan, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent on June 17 with reference to Mamedov's relatives.

"At first it was reported that Avtandil Mamedov was being transported to the border for handing over to the Azerbaijani authorities. However, later it turned out that he had been brought to the Marneuli district police station. Most likely, the court will consider the issue of Mamedov's extradition to Azerbaijan," Mr Gyulyalyev told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"We urge international organizations to interfere. Extradition to Azerbaijan threatens Mamedov with arrest and torture. Avtandil should not be allowed to repeat the fate of Afghan Mukhtarly," Ogtai Gyulyalyev has stated.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 17, 2019 at 08:59 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.