Georgian NGOs appeal to the authorities in defense of foreign citizens

Baku / 01.06.17 / Turan: About ten Georgian NGOs expressed "extreme concern" over the case of the Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Mukhtarly and the detention of Turkish citizen Mustafa Emre Cabuk.

In a joint statement, they called on the Georgian authorities to fulfill their obligations under international treaties.

According to the Civil Georgia organization, at a joint press conference the Georgian NGOs familiarized the society with the requirements set out in the appeals to the government, the prosecutor's office and the Parliament of Georgia.

According to the representative of the Center for the Study of Human Rights and Monitoring of Tamta Mikeladze, the decisions taken by the Georgian authorities regarding these individuals "substantially damage the democratic processes in Georgia."

"This case will show whether there is democratic rule in Georgia or not," she said.

"We see that our state does not act in accordance with international principles and international law and does not protect the citizens of foreign countries who are persecuted in their countries," said Eka Gigauri, head of the International Transparency Organization - Georgia.

In their appeal, Georgian NGOs call on the government to ensure the free living, movement and inviolability of activists, journalists, politicians and others from neighboring countries persecuted in their countries.

The NGO Procurator's Office requires an effective, timely and independent investigation into the case, and the Parliament is asked to exercise effective control over the activities of law enforcement agencies and security structures.

NGOs urged the Georgian authorities not to extradite to Turkey the citizen of this country Mustafa Emre Cabuk, the manager of a private college in Tbilisi, and whom Georgian law enforcers detained on May 24 at the request of the Turkish side, accusing him of having links with FETO. -0-