Ombudsman of Georgia Demands Government�s Reaction to Mukhtarly�s Abduction

Baku / 05/31/17 / Turan: Georgia's Public Defender (Ombudsman) Ucha Nanuashvili believes that law enforcement bodies should immediately react effectively to the fact that the Azerbaijani journalist Afghan Mukhtarly disappeared. This is stated by the Public Defender of Georgia.

"As it became known to the Public Defender of Georgia, in the evening of May 29 the Azerbaijani journalist Afghan Mukhtarly, who lives in Tbilisi, disappeared. According to his family members, his journalistic activities were aimed at identifying the actions of the Azerbaijani authorities. They say that recently Afghan Mukhtarly was watched by unknown persons, and in connection with his disappearance the family has already appealed to the police.

The Public Defender of Georgia believes that law enforcement agencies should immediately react effectively to this fact, reports www.apsny.ge.

First and foremost, it is important to take all measures to timely suppress the crime, and then - to bring to justice all the perpetrators. The Georgian state must fully ensure the protection of the rights of all persons living on its territory. The processes in neighboring countries should not affect the respect of the Georgian state for human rights. All persons residing in Georgia should have a sense of security and legal and fair treatment. There should not be even the slightest suspicion that the Georgian state is turning a blind eye to a crime or negligently treating the disappearance of Afghan Mukhtarly," the Public Defender said in a statement. -0-