An Azeri journalist kidnapped in Georgia and also was forcefully taken to Azerbaijan where the journalist was detained in custody, his lawyer said on Wednesday, 30th May, in a case condemned by the rights activists.

An investigative journalist and also a human rights activist, Afgan Mukhtarli has been living in the former Soviet republic of Georgia since the year 2015, and he went missing on Tuesday evening.

On Wednesday, a few hours after the kidnap, lawyer Elchin Sadigov told to the reporters that Mukhtarli had been kidnapped in the Tbilisi, capital of Georgia, by the group of unknown men, beaten up and was taken forcibly to the Azeri–Georgian border, where he was detained by the Azeri police.

The journalist was charged by the Azeri police with the illegal border crossing and also for smuggling, said Sadigov.

The Azerbaijan’s prosecutor general’s office told that the journalist has been detained after illegally crossing the border with a large sum amount of money.

Late on Wednesday, the court in the Azeri capital Baku has ordered Mukhtarli’s pre-trial detention for three months.

“Mukhtarli’s arrest was a political order of Azeri authorities and he was punished for his critical articles,” told Osman Kazimov, other lawyer of the journalist, told to reporters.

Kazimov also said that the lawyers would appeal the court’s ruling.

Georgia‘s interior ministry said that it had launched an investigation into the illegal kidnap of Azeri journalist.

“Azerbaijan‘s authorities must release Mr. Mukhtarli without delay and ensure that he fully enjoys his human rights, including the protection from torture and ill treatment,” said Nils Muiznieks in a statement.

Dozens of the journalists have rallied in Tbilisi on Wednesday in the support of Azeri journalist.

Rights groups have accused the Azeri authorities for muzzling dissent and jailing opponents. The court in Baku denies the charges and said that its population enjoys the freedom of speech and also access to opposition media.

During the recent years, several rights activists and also journalists have been imprisoned in Azerbaijan, on the charges of illegal business activity, tax evasion and also hooliganism. The journalists lawyers have dismissed the trials as politically motivated.

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Mrudula Duddempudi.