Deputy of the Milli Majlis (National Parliament) from the ruling New Azerbaijan Party and member of the human rights committee Elnam Nasirov in an interview with Radio Azadliq said that the detention of journalist Afgan Mukhtarli was the result of a joint Georgian-Azerbaijani successful special operation.
In response, the Georgian side categorically refuted these allegations in a public statement.
“The statement of Azerbaijani MP Elman Nasirov that the detention of journalist Afgan Mukhtarli was the result of joint work of the special services of Georgia and Azerbaijan is not true, the State Security Service categorically refutes the information disseminated by the deputy and any involvement in the case of Afgan Mukhtarli.”
In the case of Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Mukhtarli, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia is conducting an investigation under art. 143 OCG, which implies “illegal deprivation of liberty,” the statement further says.
Meydan TV asked political scientist and human rights activist Arif Yunus about the contradictory nature of these two statements.
“I have already expressed my attitude to this statement on my Facebook page, I can also say that such a thing as kidnapping and transfer without problems across the border can not be done today without the coordination of special services.”
The editor-in-chief of the analytical portal Newcaucasus, Irakli Chikhladze, believes that “first of all, it is necessary to check the statement of the State Security Services. How can they say anything if there is still no evidence available? So far, no recordings have been made from CCTV cameras, there are not even suspects in the kidnapping case, and the refutations by those in power, claiming non-involvement in the kidnapping only reinforces suspicions of their direct involvement”.
Journalist and political exile Afgan Mukhtarli disappeared in Tbilisi on May 29, and reappeared in custody the next day in Baku. Mukhtarli claims that he was kidnapped by Georgian special services and handed over to their Azerbaijani counterparts.
The Georgian government to this day denies any involvement in this matter.
Almost all influential international institutions, as well as organizations for the protection of human rights, the European Union and the United States have already expressed concern over the disappearance and subsequent detention of the Azerbaijani journalist.
Source meydan.tv
