Arrest of Rauf Mirkadyrov Extended for Another Month

Yesterday the Nasimi District Court of Baku extended for another month the term of arrest of the journalist Rauf Mirkadyrov accused of treason.

The lawyer Elmar Suleymanov told Turan that in respect of Mirkadyrov no investigative actions are carried out and there is no need to extend the period of detention.

The investigation also motivates the extension of the detention with a need to obtain the results of the examination appointed. However, the lawyer does not believe that the investigation is being completed.

According to him, the amendments to the legislation in late 2014 will extend the maximum period of detention during the preliminary investigation from 12 to 13 months. At the same time, "in exceptional circumstances", the court may extend the investigation for another 6 months.

Recall that Mirkadyrov rejects the accusation, calling it absurd.

The journalist was detained in Baku on April 19, 2014 immediately after his deportation from Turkey. He was charged with treason in the form of espionage in favor of Armenia.

This accusation is based on a video obtained by DHS from a man called Samvel. The video shows that Mirkadyrov communicates with the participants of an international seminar in Tbilisi and signs some papers.

DHS argues that Mirkadyrov handed information about military installations and Azerbaijani armed forces to the Armenians for money. -06D-