MEPs demand Afgan Mukhtarli’s release, but EU’s Hahn courts Baku regime
by Jane WhyattThe European Parliament has denounced the state kidnapping of journalist Afghan Mukhtarli. The roles of Azerbaijan, (where he is now in pre-trial detention) and of Georgia, (where he was snatched in the street and taken by force to the Azeri capital Baku), are both highlighted in a three-page, strongly-worded condemnation.
Because of the serious concern expressed, the future relationship of the EU to both states is called into question. Georgia recently agreed a visa liberalisation programme EU-Georgia association agreement (including free trade) entered into force on 1 July 2016, the visa liberation programme on 28 March 2017. (This…
