Afgan Sadygov deported from Georgia: Reasons behind the court decision
The Tbilisi City Court has found Azerbaijani activist Afgan Sadygov guilty of insulting a police officer, subsequently ordering his deportation from Georgia and imposing a three-year ban on his re-entry into the country.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Georgia released an official statement detailing the case, which was initiated under Article 173 of the Code of Administrative Offenses.
According to the court's verdict, Afgan Sadygov was fined 2,000 GEL for insulting a police officer on social media. During the proceedings, representatives of the Georgia MIA highlighted the activist's extensive history of legal violations as a factor in the decision.
62 administrative offenses and security concerns
Official records indicate that Sadygov has committed 62 different administrative offenses to date. The Ministry stated that these violations included breaches of rules regarding assemblies and rallies, for which he has previously served two administrative detention sentences.
The Georgia MIA added that the final decision also took into account security concerns and information provided by law enforcement agencies of Azerbaijan.
Extradition request and the role of the European Court of Human Rights
In recent years, the Republic of Azerbaijan had requested the extradition of Afgan Sadygov, who was wanted in connection with a criminal case. However, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg had applied an interim measure, prohibiting Georgia from handing him over to Azerbaijan at that time.
Consequently, the Georgian side had initially refused the extradition. However, the Prosecutor's Office of Azerbaijan recently notified the Tbilisi authorities through official channels that the criminal prosecution against Sadygov had been terminated.
Following this development, all extradition procedures in Georgia were halted. Nevertheless, due to the new administrative offense committed in Tbilisi, he was fined and subsequently deported to his country of origin.
Chronology of events: Night detention and final verdict
Tbilisi police detained Afgan Sadygov late last night. The case was brought before the court based on allegations of insulting a police officer via social media platforms. During the oral hearing, the fact of the administrative offense was confirmed. According to information released by lawyer Tamta Mikeladze, the court ultimately ruled for Afgan Sadygov's deportation to Azerbaijan.
Deportation procedures between neighboring states often involve complex legal frameworks, particularly when balancing international human rights obligations with local administrative laws. In the context of the South Caucasus, such legal cooperation is frequently guided by bilateral agreements on legal assistance and the exchange of information regarding persons wanted for various offenses.
