Prepared by Messenger Staff
ECtHR Blocks Extradition of Azerbaijani Journalist Afgan Sadigov
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) issued an interim ruling on January 14, 2025, instructing Georgian authorities to halt the extradition of critical Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Sadigov to Azerbaijan for seven days. Sadigov, who fled his home country and has resided in Georgia since December 2023, faced extradition after the Tbilisi City Court ruled against him on November 28, 2024.
On January 15, 2025, the Tbilisi Court of Appeal rejected Sadigov's appeal against Georgia's refusal to grant him refugee or humanitarian status. With this decision, Sadigov has exhausted all domestic legal avenues in Georgia, leaving the ECtHR's interim measure as his only immediate protection from extradition.
Anticipating the Court of Appeal's decision, the Social Justice Centre (SJC), a local human rights organization, preemptively applied to the ECtHR on January 10 for an interim measure under Rule 39 of the Rules of Court. The ECtHR granted the request, urging Georgia to suspend Sadigov's extradition until January 21, while prioritizing the case under Rule 41.
The SJC has since announced its intention to seek an extension of the interim measure, pending a substantive ruling by the ECtHR.
The SJC has urged Georgian authorities, including Georgian Dream's Justice Minister Anri Okhanashvili, to respect the ECtHR's decision and prevent Sadigov's extradition, citing the risk of severe human rights violations if he is returned to Azerbaijan.
PACE Delegation Meets Jailed Georgian Actor Andro Chichinadze in Gldani Prison
Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) visited Gldani prison during their official trip to Georgia, where they met with imprisoned actor and activist Andro Chichinadze. The meeting focused on Chichinadze's circumstances, broader issues of political imprisonment, protest movements, and alleged abuses by law enforcement.
Chichinadze's lawyer, Tornike Migineishvili, described the meeting as a critical moment, stating, "They asked about Andro'ss condition, how is the actor today, when he is locked in four walls, and then they heard directly the details regarding the case, as well as the protest... They also heard his assumptions, expectations, and explanation of why, in his opinion, he is in prison, because in reality, there is no legal leverage or factual circumstances for this."
Migineishvili added that the delegation appeared to understand the gravity of the political and human rights situation in Georgia, noting, "The impression was left that the members of the delegation correctly assess the events developed in Georgia and the gravest picture that we have."
According to Chichinadze, the actor's imprisonment is emblematic of the challenges faced by those advocating for democratic reforms and alignment with European values.
Migineishvili concluded with optimism, expressing hope for Georgia's future: "This is a wave of protest that protects the European future... We expressed the assumption and expectation that we will meet these people again, but in Europe that the Georgian people are striving for."
