Court refuses to mitigate verdict to Afghan Mukhtarly

In Azerbaijan, the Court of Appeal upheld the verdict to journalist Afghan Mukhtarly. Activists called the decision an execution of a political order. The defence intends to file a cassation appeal to the Supreme Court (SC) of Azerbaijan.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in May 2017, Azerbaijani journalist Afghan Mukhtarly was kidnapped in Tbilisi and brought to Baku. On January 12, the court sentenced him to six years of imprisonment on the charge of illegal crossing of the border, smuggling and resisting a public officer. Afghan Mukhtarly himself pleaded not guilty.

On April 24, the Sheki Court of Appeal considered the appeal filed against the verdict to Afghan Mukhtarly.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed by Samir Asadli, a member of the board for the "Nida", who watched the trial, that the Court did not accept the arguments of the defence, which insisted on acquittal of Afghan Mukhtarly, and left the verdict unchanged.

The defence of the journalist intends to file a cassation appeal to the Supreme Court (SC) of Azerbaijan, advocate Elchin Sadygov informed the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Jamil Gasanli, the leader of the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF), who watched the trial, called the Court's decision "an execution of a political order."

"Afghan is punished for investigating corruption in the top-ranking echelons of power," Jamil Gasanli told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

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