Azerbaijani Journalist Afgan Sadygov Granted Extradition Custody by Georgian Judge
By Liza Mchedlidze
Monday, August 5, 2024
Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Sadygov has been placed in extradition custody by Judge Ketavan Jachvadze. Sadygov will remain in prison until a final decision on his extradition to Azerbaijan is made.
Sadygov was arrested in Tbilisi on August 2 by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. According to the agency, Sadygov is wanted in Azerbaijan on charges of threats and extortion, which led to his arrest for extradition purposes.
Sadygov's family has labeled the Azerbaijani accusations as falsified, expressing fears that he will face severe treatment under President Aliyev's regime if extradited. Before his arrest, Sadygov was prevented from boarding a flight from Tbilisi on July 18, with airport officials informing him that he could only leave the country by traveling to Baku.
In an interview with Radio Liberty, Sadygov claimed that his persecution is linked to his journalistic work in Azerbaijan. He had been arrested twice in Baku, first in 2016 and again in 2020, the latter resulting in a seven-year prison sentence. Sadygov began a hunger strike in 2020, and in 2021, the Supreme Court reduced his sentence to four years. After nearly two years, he was released under amnesty.
Sadygov came to Tbilisi for medical treatment with the aid of an international organization. Fearing for his safety, he sought help to relocate to a third country.
"We submitted an application, maybe they will help us to go to a third country. A person came out from the embassy, we told them why we came, we gave them a letter, which states that it is no longer safe for us to be in Georgia and that they should help us go to some third country. We are very afraid here. I don't know what will happen after a minute or an hour," Sadygov told Radio Liberty.
