Azeri court rules to keep journalist in prison pending trial

The Baku Court of Appeals today upheld a ruling by a lower court to keep journalist Rauf Mirqadirov in prison for three months pending trial.

Mirqadirov, a politics correspondent for Azerbaijan’s Russian-language daily Zerkalo, or Mirror, was deported from Turkey on April 19 and arrested upon arrival at Baku airport.

He was later charged with high treason. The Prosecutor-General’s Office said Mirqadirov was recruited by Armenian intelligence services back in 2008, an allegation the journalist denied.

Mirqadirov is known for his criticism of the government.

Reporters without Borders and the International Center for Protection of Journalists have condemned Mirqadirov’s arrest and demanded his immediate release.

Bakudaily.az