CoE criticizes arrest of Mekhman Aliev in Azerbaijan

On August 25, Stefan Schennach, Co-Rapporteur of the Council of Europe (CoE) on Azerbaijan, called on to release the arrested director of the news agency "Turan". The Secretary General of the Council of Europe and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) also voiced a call for respect for human rights and freedom of the press.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on August 25, Mekhman Aliev was arrested for three months on the charges of illegal entrepreneurship, tax evasion, and abuse of power. The defence intends to appeal against the court's decision.

"I call for the immediate release of Mekhman Aliev, a founder of an independent news agency," wrote Stefan Schennach on Twitter on August 25.

Turbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, has also criticized the arrest of the director for the news agency "Turan". Turbjørn Jagland has called on the Azerbaijani authorities to "respect cooperation with the Council of Europe and fulfil their obligations of a democratic society."

The prosecution of Mekhman Aliev has prompted the French MFA to remind the Baku authorities of the need to respect human rights and freedom of the press.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.