After numerous appeals urging the Georgian government to refrain from extraditing critical Azerbaijani journalist and editor-in-chief of Azel.tv Afgan Sadigov, the Tbilisi City Court today ruled in favor of his extradition. Afgan Sadigov, a journalist imprisoned twice in Azerbaijan on extortion charges, faced a seven-year sentence following his 2020 arrest under dubious circumstances. He endured a 242-day hunger strike before being released on amnesty after over two years. Due to severe health issues, he sought treatment abroad before returning to Azerbaijan, but escalating threats forced him to relocate to Georgia, where he continued his work from Tbilisi. On July 17, Afgan Sadigov revealed that Georgian authorities prevented him from traveling to a third country via Turkey, only allowing him to go to Azerbaijan. He stated that, to his knowledge, no criminal investigation was ongoing against him in Azerbaijan, but he feared the authorities might fabricate a case and pressure Georgia for his extradition. He also reported threats against his family still in Azerbaijan. As a result of today's decision, Sadigov faces inhumane treatment, harsh punishment, or political persecution in Azerbaijan. @amnesty

@KShoshiashvili The Georgian government carries out the orders of the bandit Ilham Aliyev