The “Opposition Alliance” has issued a statement regarding the deportation of journalist Afgan Sadygov from Georgia to Azerbaijan.

According to the statement, by expelling the Azerbaijani journalist, “the Ivanishvili regime violated the European Court of Human Rights’ decision, which had prohibited Sadygov’s extradition, recognizing that it posed a threat to his life.”

“The regime’s action is a personal act of revenge because of Sadygov’s critical position toward Ivanishvili.

The Opposition Alliance expresses its support for Afgan Sadygov and appeals to the international community to monitor this case to protect the journalist’s life and health,” the statement reads.

For reference, the Ministry of Internal Affairs detained Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Sadygov administratively. According to the Ministry, he was detained for insulting a police officer on social media. As a sanction, he was fined 2,000 GEL, expelled from Georgia, and banned from re-entering the country for three years. According to his lawyer, the Tbilisi City Court made the decision to deport Sadygov to Azerbaijan at 4:00 a.m.

Investigative authorities explained that a few days ago, official sources informed the Georgian side that the Azerbaijani Prosecutor’s Office had terminated the criminal case for which the European Court of Human Rights had issued a temporary measure. Accordingly, all extradition procedures in Georgia were also stopped. However, the Ministry of Internal Affairs added that Sadygov’s administrative offense, in addition to the fine, included expulsion from Georgia and a ban on entering the country. Therefore, Afgan Sadygov was sent to his country of origin and prohibited from entering Georgia for three years.