European Parliament condemns kidnapping of Azerbaijani journalist Afghan Mukhtarly

In its resolution adopted today, the European Parliament has called on the Georgian authorities to investigate the kidnapping of an Azerbaijani journalist in Tbilisi and the Azerbaijani authorities to release Afghan Mukhtarly.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 31, in Baku, the court pronounced the decision to arrest Afghan Mukhtarly for three months. He was charged with crossing the border illegally, smuggling, and resisting a border guard.

The MEPs urge the Georgian authorities to thoroughly investigate the violent disappearance of Afghan Mukhtarly and his transfer to Baku, as well as to bring the guilty persons to justice, the "News-Georgia" reports.

The European Parliament has also recalled that the Georgian authorities are responsible for protecting citizens of other states residing in the country or people seeking political asylum.

Besides, the European Parliament has also called on the Azerbaijani authorities to release Afghan Mukhtarly and all persons deprived of their liberty as a result of violation of their fundamental rights, including freedom of expression.

Heidi Hautala, a member of the European Parliament, has called the journalist's detention an "unprecedented case," reports the Georgia-Online".

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