21 October 2017, 14:38
PACE's Special Rapporteur concerned over arrest of Azerbaijani journalist in Ukraine
The Interpol system cannot be used to prosecute oppositionists abroad. This was stated by Bernd Fabricius, a Special Rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in his comment on the arrest of the Azerbaijani journalist Fikret Guseinli in Ukraine. The international community should make every effort to ensure that Guseinli is not extradited to Azerbaijan, Djamil Gasanli, the head of the Azerbaijani National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF), has stated.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Fikret Guseinli, who had received political asylum in the Netherlands, was detained on October 14 at the Kiev "Borispol" Airport. Azerbaijan declared him wanted by the Interpol system on charges of fraud and illegal border crossing. On October 17, the Borispol court arrested him for 18 days.
Mr Gasanli is convinced that Guseinli is persecuted for political reasons and for his professional activities. He has recalled that the journalist came to Kiev as a representative of the bureau of the oppositional satellite "TuranTV" Channel, which is broadcasting from Europe.
In March 2006, Fikret Guseinli, who then worked for the Azerbaijani oppositional newspaper "Azadlyg" (Freedom), was beaten by unidentified masked men in dwelling settlement of Patamdar of Baku. The newspaper had linked the attack with his criticism of high-ranking officials. In 2008, the journalist left Azerbaijan because of pressure.
Djamil Gasanli has noted that if the journalist is extradited to Azerbaijan, he will join the ranks of the country's political prisoners.
Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.
Author: Faik Medjid Source: CK correspondent
