Tuesday, June 20 2017 12:19

ArmInfo.The kidnapping or worse, delivery of Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Mukhtarli to Azerbaijan put the Georgian authorities in a very stupid position. I think that our authorities are trapped. Professor of philosophy department of Batumi  State University Giorgi Masalkin expressed this  opinion to ArmInfo.  

Known for his criticism of the leadership of Azerbaijan, Afgan  Mukhtarli, for fear of persecution by the Azerbaijani authorities,  lived in Tbilisi with his family for the last years, from where he  was kidnapped and brought to Baku in late May. On May 30, charges  were brought against Mukhtarli under articles 318.1 (illegal crossing  of the state border), 206.1 (smuggling) and 315.2 (resistance to a  representative of the government using violence dangerous to life and  health) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan. He faces up to 15 years  of imprisonment.

"It's hard for me to imagine what's worse - that we allowed the  kidnapping of a foreign journalist in broad daylight in the very  center of Tbilisi, or the involvement of our authorities in bringing  him to Baku, both of which are a big drawback for Georgia, especially  in terms of developing rights and Freedom of movement of a person,"  he said.

Masalkin noted the need to accuse the Georgian authorities of  Azerbaijani colleagues of kidnapping people, the need for official,  addressed to Baku, notes of protest of Tbilisi. According to his  estimates, this would at least somehow allow the Georgian leadership  to get out of this shameful situation. Otherwise, to justify their  own inaction in the face of such a shameful incident, Tbilisi,  according to his estimates, will be virtually impossible.

On June 15, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling on  the Georgian authorities to promptly investigate the abduction of  Mukhtarli, and the Azerbaijani authorities to release the journalist.  In addition, the European Parliament demanded the release of all  those arrested in Azerbaijan for their fundamental rights and  freedoms, including the right to freedom of expression. More than 200  journalists from 16 countries of the world demanded his immediate  release from prison.