Georgian authorities decide to extradite opposition journalist to Azerbaijan
The Tbilisi City Court has decided to extradite journalist Afgan Sadigov to Azerbaijan. According to the defense, in this case he will not escape political persecution, torture and cruel treatment for criticizing the Azerbaijani authorities.
The prosecutor explained at the hearing that the court received guarantees from the competent authorities of Azerbaijan that Sadigov will not be subjected to torture and inhuman treatment.
Sadigov has been on hunger strike in a Tbilisi detention center since September 21 – for 68 days already. On the 17th day of the hunger strike, he was hospitalized due to deteriorating health.
The founder and editor-in-chief of the opposition Azerbaijani channel Azel TV, Afgan Sadigov, was arrested in Tbilisi on August 3 on the basis of a fabricated Interpol wanted list at the request of the Azerbaijani authorities. In May 2020, he was sentenced in Azerbaijan to seven years on charges of extortion. Human rights activists called the criminal case a fabrication.
Sadigov was pardoned in May 2023, but continued to face threats from the authorities and left his homeland. He is known for his criticism of President Ilham Aliyev and his entourage.
