PACE rapporteur on Azerbaijan condemns conviction of Afghan Mukhtarly and Gezal Bayramli

Baku / 24.01.18 / Turan: The co-rapporteur of the PACE Monitoring Committee Stefan Shennak condemned the sentences in Azerbaijan to journalist Afgan Mukhtarly and deputy chairman of the Popular front party Gezal Bayramli.

"May I ask for what?" I am concerned about the trial, her arrest was a mistake, the rule of law was not respected," Schenk wrote in his Twitter microblog on Bayramli's verdict. A few days ago, Shennak also expressed concern over the verdict in the case of the journalist Afgan Mukhtarly, writing on Twitter that he and his colleague had investigated Mukhtarly's case in Azerbaijan and Georgia. The speaker expressed concern over how he captured Afghanistan in Georgia: "He should not be under arrest," Schennak wrote.

* Bayramli was detained on May 25, 2017 at a border checkpoint upon his return from Georgia. A criminal case was opened against her in connection with Article 206.1 (smuggling) of the Criminal Code and was arrested.

According to the investigation, during the inspection of baggage Bayramli were found 12000 dollars, which she allegedly did not declare.

Bayramli said that the money was put to her, and her arrest is of a customized political nature. She also stated that she went to Georgia for treatment and for the last two years she underwent surgery there. On January 23, the court sentenced her to three years in prison. Local and international human rights organizations recognized Bayramli as a political prisoner.

** Mukhtarli was kidnapped on May 29, 2017 in Tbilisi by police officers of Georgia and handed over to the authorities of Azerbaijan. He was accused of illegally crossing the border, resisting the border guard and smuggling. On January 12, he was sentenced to six years in prison.

Mukhtarly is known for his persecution in Baku, moved to Tbilisi and worked with opposition Azerbaijani publications, investigating corruption in the highest echelons of power in Azerbaijan. -03B06-