This week, a French citizen’s trial began in Baku, international organizations urged Georgia not to extradite a journalist to Azerbaijan, and another individual faced a travel ban.
Frenchman on trial in Baku: “It is wrong to punish me for relations with France”
The trial of three foreign nationals, Theo Clerc from France, P. Han Paul from Australia, and Ismael De Saint Quentin from New Zealand, accused of vandalizing a Baku Metro train, has started in Baku. While Clerc remains in prison, his co-defendants, though not initially arrested, have been restricted from leaving the country. Their lawyer, Elchin Sadigov, requested house arrest for Clerc and the removal of travel restrictions for the others, arguing that all three had compensated for the damages.
The defendants, fined under administrative charges shortly after the incident, now face criminal charges for hooliganism and deliberate property damage, which allegedly caused significant disruptions to the Baku Metro. The lawyer emphasized that graffiti is widely recognized as a cultural expression and claimed it was unreasonable to imprison Clerc, especially after paying the damages.
The defendants maintain their innocence, stating they had no intention of committing a crime and were unaware that their actions could lead to criminal charges. Clerc further argued that his detention might be politically motivated, given the strained relations between Azerbaijan and France. The trial has been postponed until September 10 due to the judge’s vacation.
International organizations requested the Georgian authorities not to hand over detained journalist to Azerbaijan
The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the Independent Association of Georgian Journalists (IAGJ), and Amnesty International have called on the Georgian authorities to halt the extradition of Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Sadigov. Sadigov, the chief editor of Azel.TV, was arrested in Tbilisi, Georgia, on August 3, and placed in pre-trial detention. The arrest followed an international warrant issued by Azerbaijan, where Sadigov faces charges of extortion by threat—a charge he and his family strongly deny, labeling it as politically motivated.
Currently held in a deportation prison in Georgia, Sadigov’s detention is based on an extradition request from Azerbaijan’s General Prosecutor’s Office. His Georgian lawyer, Dimitri Nozadze, suggested that the case against Sadigov might have been fabricated. On August 5, the Tbilisi City Court sentenced Sadigov to two months’ imprisonment.
Sadigov had moved to Georgia with his family in December 2023 to escape persecution in Azerbaijan, where he had previously been imprisoned. In 2020, he was sentenced to seven years in prison in Azerbaijan, later reduced to four years, and was released in 2022 under a presidential amnesty. Recently, in July 2024, Sadigov and his family were prevented by Georgian border control from traveling to Turkey and were told they could only return to Azerbaijan. He was arrested a few days later.
Toplum TV case: one more investigated person was forbidden to leave the country
Political commentator Sahin Jafarli has been barred from leaving Azerbaijan, a restriction he believes is due to his involvement with the Toplum TV internet channel, where he worked as a program host.
Jafarli, who was previously questioned as a witness in the Toplum TV case by the Baku City Police Department, revealed this travel ban to the “Turan” Information Agency. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has not commented on the reasons behind the ban.
Jafarli’s situation is part of a broader crackdown on individuals associated with Toplum TV, many of whom have faced similar travel restrictions. In recent months, numerous journalists and activists linked to the channel have been interrogated and subsequently banned from leaving the country, reflecting increasing pressure on media and civil society figures in Azerbaijan.
