About Civil.ge
Eng | Geo | Rus
Last updated: 10:55 - 1 May.'18
RSS
Mobile
Twitter
Facebook
CSOs, Media Outlets Call for Parliamentary Probe into Mukhtarli Case
Civil Georgia, Tbilisi / 19 Feb.'18 / 15:49

A group of 35 civil society organizations and media outlets issued a joint statement on February 19 calling on the Parliament of Georgia to set up an interim investigative commission over the case of Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Mukhtarli, who went missing in Tbilisi on May 29, 2017, and appeared in a detention facility in Baku a day later.

The organizations urge the Parliament to summon the Interior Minister and the Chief Prosecutor, and call on the latter “to ensure involvement of experts and investigators from partner countries (the United States and the EU member states),” as well as to provide “timely updates” on the course of the investigation.

According to the statement, “doubts still persist over the participation of Georgian law enforcement agencies in the organized crime, and over the political loyalty expressed by the Georgian government to Azerbaijani authorities over the cases of Azerbaijani dissidents [living in Georgia].” 

“Serious shortcomings that have been exposed in the course of the investigation have significantly reduced public trust and expectations of efficient investigation,” the organizations also noted.

Speaking on the matter on February 19, Parliament Chairman Irakli Kobakhidze stressed the case was “one of the most important cases” for the ruling party, and said he did not rule out the possibility of establishing an investigative commission. “The investigative commission is not off the table, and we may return to the issue, if the investigation fails to produce results in a timely manner,” Kobakhidze noted. 

The European Georgia parliamentary minority has been calling for a parliamentary probe since June 2017, but their request has been left unanswered since then.

Afgan Mukhtarli, who was arrested on charges of illegal border crossing, smuggling money and police disobedience by Azerbaijani authorities, was sentenced to six years in prison on January 12. The United States and the European Union criticized the decision and called on the Azerbaijani government to release him immediately, and on the Georgian government to investigate his allegations.

RELATED
Latest News
01 May.'18 10:55
We Have Moved to a New Platform
Direct Your Bookmarks to https://civil.ge.
29 Apr.'18 03:54
Ruling Party Candidate Wins MP By-Elections
Givi Chichinadze will represent Vani and Khoni single-mandate constituency in the Parliament of Georgia.
28 Apr.'18 09:40
Polls Open for Vani and Khoni MP By-Elections
48,123 voters are eligible to cast their ballots in Vani and Khoni single-mandate constituency.
27 Apr.'18 17:23
State Dept’s Europe Affairs Point Man to Visit Tbilisi
Wess Mitchell will meet senior government officials and address the NATO-Georgia Public Diplomacy Forum.
27 Apr.'18 13:45
In Quotes: Georgian Politicians on Ex-PM Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Comeback
Bidzina Ivanishvili will be approved as the Georgian Dream party chairman at the upcoming convention.
26 Apr.'18 18:15
SG Jens Stoltenberg: Georgia NATO’s ‘Very Close’ Partner
The NATO Secretary General says Foreign Ministers meeting tomorrow will recognize the country’s progress.
26 Apr.'18 14:24
Ex-PM Ivanishvili to Chair Georgian Dream Party
Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said Ivanishvili was ‘best equipped’ to add new dynamism to the party.
26 Apr.'18 11:12
Lawmaker Proposes Criminal Liability for ‘Insult of Religious Feelings’
The parliamentary human rights committee decided to set up a working group for scrutinizing the draft law.
25 Apr.'18 17:21
New Abkhaz Government Head Appointed
Gennady Gagulia has served as the Abkhaz “prime minister” twice - in 1995-1997, and 2002-2003.
25 Apr.'18 14:43
Watchdog Improves Georgia’s Press Freedom Ranking
None of the countries of the former Soviet Union (except the Baltics) are ranked ahead of Georgia.

About Civil Georgia
Civil.Ge © 2001-2024, Daily News Online
Registered office: 2 Dolidze Str, 4-th Floor.
36