Lawyer raises fears of further prosecution of Azerbaijani journalist Sadigov

A lawyer representing Azerbaijani journalist Afghan Sadigov has warned that he may face new charges in the coming weeks, raising concerns about his legal future.

Tamta Mikeladze on Monday said there was a risk that Sadigov could be accused under a different case and potentially become a political prisoner, also warning of possible ill-treatment.

She criticised the actions of the Georgian authorities, claiming that the country had violated a decision by the European Court of Human Rights.

Mikeladze stressed Sadigov was currently in normal physical condition but described his detention by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia as aggressive.

She said he recalled officers arriving at his home and detaining him forcefully, adding that he felt as though he was being treated like a dangerous suspect.

Mikeladze also noted that following his transfer, Sadigov was met by Azerbaijani representatives.

Sadigov was detained on 4 April in Tbilisi under administrative procedures. A city court later found him guilty under Article 173 of the administrative code, related to insulting a police officer on social media.

He was fined 2,000 lari, expelled from Georgia, and banned from re-entering the country for three years. He is currently reported to be in Baku with relatives.