Detained Azeri journalist’s family gets political asylum in Switzerland

PanARMENIAN.Net - Family members of Azerbaijani journalist Rauf Mirkadyrov detained on April 18 in Ankara were granted political asylum in Switzerland, the court’s official notification said.

As Panormama.am reported, citing Caucasian Knot, the Bern court studied the case on the status of family members of Rauf Mirkadirov December 17 and heard the testimonies by Mirkadirov‘s wife Adel Babakhanova and their elder daughter Souad.

According to Azerbaijani Turan news agency, some documents have been provided by international human rights organizations and relevant agencies in Switzerland.

Rauf Mirkadirov, columnist at Azerbaijani newspaper Zerkalo, was arrested on April 18 in Ankara on charges of expiration of documents. On April 19, Mirkadirov was deported to Azerbaijan, where he immediately was arrested and put in custody by the Ministry of National Srcurity on suspicion of high treason. On April 21, the court in Baku sanctioned his arrest for three months. Mirkadirov is accused of cooperating with Armenia’s special services and divulging secret state-level information.