On 1 November at 12:00, the Tbilisi City Court will consider whether to extend the extradition detention imposed as a preventive measure against Afghan Sadigov, an Azerbaijani journalist. The Social Justice Center, defending Afghan Sadigov’s legal interests, is demanding the cancellation of the extradition detention and instead requesting the application of personal bail and a financial guarantee. Several trusted and well-known representatives of Georgian media have agreed to act as personal guarantors for Afghan Sadigov.

The Social Justice Center will present evidence to the court to demonstrate the baselessness of the charges brought against Afghan Sadigov in Azerbaijan and to substantiate claims of discriminatory persecution by Azerbaijani authorities due to his professional activities. Additionally, the organization will provide medical evidence highlighting the critical health condition of the journalist, who has been unlawfully detained, challenging the relevance of arguments regarding flight risk and obstruction of justice.

Afghan Sadigov has been repeatedly subjected to illegal criminal persecution by Azerbaijani authorities due to his professional activities and is recognized as a political prisoner. Numerous reports and statements by reputable international organizations—including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the U.S. Department of State, and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs—acknowledge this status. These organizations have also condemned the extradition proceedings against him in Georgia.

Following Afghan Sadigov’s arrest in Georgia, the U.S. State Department called on the Georgian government to "immediately" release the Azerbaijani journalist. Amnesty International and the International Press Institute (IPI) stated:
"The Georgian authorities should immediately cease efforts to extradite Afghan Sadigov—in line with their obligations under international law and the principle of non-refoulement—and ensure international protection for him and his wife if requested. There is no doubt that his extradition to Azerbaijan poses serious risks of rights violations, including torture, arbitrary detention, and an unfair trial. Sadigov’s case reflects a broader trend of suppressing independent media in Azerbaijan, which has intensified ahead of the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP 29)."

Afghan Sadigov was arrested in Tbilisi on 3 August 2024, and the Tbilisi City Court issued a three-month provisional extradition order on 4 August 2024. Azerbaijan has requested his extradition based on ongoing criminal proceedings. However, the circumstances of the case—supported by evidence submitted by the Social Justice Center—indicate that the charges are unfounded and politically motivated, aimed at punishing Sadigov for his journalistic work.

Sadigov, editor-in-chief of azel.tv, has extensively reported on corruption and social issues in Azerbaijan, often criticizing the government and exposing the illegal activities of local officials. He was previously arrested in Azerbaijan in 2016 and again in 2020 on extortion charges, receiving a seven-year sentence. During his 2020 imprisonment, he went on a 242-day hunger strike. Following his release, his health deteriorated, and he sought medical treatment in Georgia before returning to Azerbaijan. However, due to continued threats, he returned to Georgia.

In July 2024, his wife and minor children joined him in Tbilisi, intending to relocate to a third country. On 17 July 2024, Georgian police barred Afghan Sadigov from leaving the country, stating he could only go to Azerbaijan. Weeks later, on 3 August 2024, police arrested him in Tbilisi and placed him under extradition detention. Afghan Sadigov has been on hunger strike for 41 days in protest, and his health is now critical.

While in detention, Afghan Sadigov applied for international protection in Georgia, providing extensive evidence of political persecution in Azerbaijan. However, on 17 September, the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs rejected his application under a fast-track procedure without explanation, claiming there was no risk of rights violations in his case. The Tbilisi City Court is currently reviewing this decision.

International reports confirm the grave situation faced by activists, journalists, and politicians in Azerbaijan, including torture, inhuman treatment, fabricated charges, corruption in the judiciary, and threats against activists and their families.

Under these circumstances, the Tbilisi City Court must recognize that Afghan Sadigov’s extradition to Azerbaijan would lead to violations of his fundamental rights—including the prohibition of torture and the right to a fair trial—and is therefore inadmissible. His continued detention is an arbitrary and unlawful restriction of his liberty.

Preventive detention should only be applied in cases of extreme necessity, with the burden of justification lying with the state. Given Afghan Sadigov’s critical health condition, family presence in Tbilisi, and the lack of evidence supporting his detention, the court must find it difficult to justify the necessity and proportionality of this measure.

In light of the above, the Social Justice Center urges the Tbilisi City Court to thoroughly evaluate the context of Afghan Sadigov’s case, the high risk of rights violations, and his deteriorating health, and to cancel the extradition detention.

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