Reported abduction and illegal detention of Azerbaijani nationals residing in Georgia

Further information:

The statement was released following reports that Afgan Mukhtarli, an Azerbaijani journalist, had vanished from Georgia's capital Tbilisi on 29 May only to resurface in Azerbaijan's Baku, in custody, a day later.

Mr Mukhtarli was reported missing by his Georgian wife, who started receiving protection from Georgian authorities together with their daugther.

A spokesperson for the European Union's European External Action Service condemned on 4 June 2017 the alleged abduction and illegal detention of Azerbaijani nationals living in Georgia.

The EU welcomed the investigation announced by the country's leadership and urged it to be undertaken in a swift, thorough and transparent way.

Agenda.ge, 05.06.17: EU External Action Service calls for swift investigation of Azeri journalist case http://agenda.ge/news/80723/eng

Panorama.am, 05.06.17: Arrest of Azerbaijani journalist Mukhtarli is an attempt to stifle the opposition – political analyst http://www.panorama.am/en/news/2017/06/05/Detention-Azerbaijan-journalist/1788528

EurActiv, 05.06.17: EU urges Azerbaijan to release opposition figures http://www.euractiv.com/section/freedom-of-thought/news/eu-urges-azerbaijan-to-release-opposition-figures/

United States: Department of State: Press Statement, 03.06.17: Statement on the Abduction and Arrest of Afgan Mukhtarli https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/06/271551.htm

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