Tag: Afgan Mukhtali

Abduction of Mukhtarli Reduces Trust in Georgian Authorities among Ethnic Azerbaijani Population

September 27, 2017 by Khayal Azizov

Ethnic Azerbaijani people make up 6.3% of the Georgian population, or 233,000 persons. It is the biggest ethnic minority community in the country, though their voice is least heard here. The main reason is that ethnic Azerbaijani people do not trust the Government of Georgia. Moreover, they are afraid of the government.

Georgia suspends two officials while investigating journalist's abduction

July 21, 2017 by DFWatch staff

Interior Minister Giorgi Mghebrishvili said the two officials are suspended to eliminate all suspicion. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia has suspended two high ranking officials to ensure the impartiality of an investigation into the alleged abduction of an Azerbaijani investigative journalist.

The decision comes after immense pressure from human rights groups,

German Greens MEP backs Gülen school official’s plea against extradition

July 17, 2017 by DFWatch staff

Rebecca Harms, head of the Greens faction in the EU parliament. — Rebecca Harms. (Rustavi 2.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–The head of the Greens faction in the EU parliament calls on Georgia not to extradite a school manager to Turkey.

“To be a teacher is not a crime,” said Rebecca Harms, a German politician who is current head of the Greens-European Free Alliance in the EU parliament.

Azerbaijani RFE/RL journalist detained, barred from leaving country

June 22, 2017 by DFWatch staff

Kamran Mahmudov (right) with Afgan Mukhtarli, another Azerbaijani journalist whose abduction in Tbilisi in May caused outrage — Kamran Mahmudov (right) pictured next to his Azerbaijani colleague Afgan Mukhtarli, whose abduction in Tbilisi in May caused a public outcry in Georgia. (Facebook.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–A journalist at Radio Free Europe’s now closed office in Azerbaijan was detained on Thursday and told that he cannot leave the country.

Kamran Mahmudov, a former producer for RFE/RL, was detained at the border on the way into Georgia and taken to the

European Parliament calls on Georgia to investigate journalist's disappearance

June 16, 2017 by DFWatch staff

TBILISI, DFWatch–The EU Parliament calls on Georgia to thoroughly investigate the disappearance of an Azerbaijani investigative journalist in the center of Tbilisi two weeks ago.

MEPs further urge Baku to immediately release Afgan Mukhtarli and drop all charges.

Azerbaijani MP claims Georgian intel collaborated on journalist's abduction

June 10, 2017 by DFWatch staff

Elman Nasirov claims Georgian intel collaborated with their Azerbaijani counterparts to abduct a critic of the Aliyev regime in Tbilisi. — Elman Nasirov.

TBILISI, DFWatch–A member of Azerbaijan’s parliament claims Georgian and Azerbaijani intelligence agencies collaborated on abducting a journalist in Tbilisi and send him back to Baku to face jail.

Elman Nasirov, a member of Azerbaijan’s national assembly Mili Meclis,

Protesters put bags over their heads as parliament silent on Mukhtarli case

June 6, 2017 by DFWatch staff

Journalists wore plastic bags over their heads to raise awareness about the apparent abduction of journalist Afgan Mukhtarli in Tbilisi — (Liberali.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian journalists covered their heads with plastic sacks during a meeting of the parliament’s human rights committee on Tuesday to protest the abduction of an Azerbaijani investigative journalist in Tbilisi.

But the committee did not discuss

Georgian authorities deny involvement in abduction of Azerbaijani journalist

June 1, 2017 by DFWatch staff

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s head of government Thursday denied that his country’s authorities had been involved when a journalist was abducted three days earlier in Tbilisi and delivered into the hands of Azerbaijani police for criminal prosecution.

Abduction of Azerbaijani journalist sparks outrage in Tbilisi

May 31, 2017 by DFWatch staff

TBILISI, DFWatch–Activists rallied in Tbilisi on Wednesday against the apparent abduction and return to Azerbaijan of an investigative journalist who had criticized the Aliyev regime.

Journalists and rights activists rallied outside the government office

Journalist who sought refuge in Georgia abducted to Azerbaijan

May 31, 2017 by DFWatch staff

TBILISI, DFWatch–An investigative journalist who fled Azerbaijan and sought asylum in neighboring Georgia was abducted by unknown men in Tbilisi on Monday and taken across the border to his home country.

Journalist Afgan Mukhtali is now being held in Baku,