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sentence in order to clear his name and be reunited with his family. Mirgadirov also complained about failing health. At the same time, he denied being mistreated while in custody or being forced to testify against other political prisoners, noting that it would be "unfair" of him to accuse the authorities of putting pressure on him. He stressed his intention to continue his journalism activity in the future.
123:, another human rights activist arrested on similar charges, considered Mirgadirov's arrest as a start to a "full, unofficial ban on contacts with Armenia." Yunus also questioned the timing of the arrest and states: "If the Ministry of National Security, as alleged, had suspected Mirgadirov of espionage back in 2008–2009, why did it keep quiet until now?"
177:
states that
Mirgadirov has been "arrested on what appear to be trumped-up charges of spying for Armenia." Reporters Without Borders spokesman Johann Bihr said "The grave charges brought against Mirqadirov are totally absurd and fool no one. He is just the latest victim of the Azerbaijani government's
118:
The charges stem from
Mirgadirov's visits to Armenia between 2008 and 2009, where he allegedly transferred information to Armenian intelligence about Azerbaijan's political and military status which include "photos and schemes to be used against Azerbaijan." Mirgadirov's lawyer claims the allegations
134:
Throughout the trial, Mirgadirov maintained his innocence. On 28 December 2015, he was found guilty of spying and sentenced to six years of prison. The ruling was upheld by the Court of Appeal on 17 March 2016, but
Mirgadirov was released on suspended sentence. He vowed to seek the overruling of the
110:
Since 2010 Rauf
Mirgadirov lived in Turkey with his family working as correspondent for Zerkalo and Ayna. However, in April 2014, he was deported from Turkey to Azerbaijan where he was arrested upon arrival at the airport. Mirgadirov was arrested on charges of spying for Armenia. The deportation of
115:'s visit to Baku. This sequence of events made Mirgadirov's lawyer assume that the deportation was due to an arrangement between Azerbaijan and Turkey. Since the arrest, Mirgadirov remained in pretrial custody. His initial detention period was three months but this has been extended several times.
54:, Mirgadirov was arrested for allegedly spying for Armenia and has been detained since April 2014. In December 2015, he was found guilty and sentenced to six years of prison. Following an appeal of his case, the ruling was upheld in March 2016, but Mirgadirov was released on suspended sentence.
73:
The state of emergency Rauf
Mirgadirov and a group of other journalists produced newspaper "Bizim Yol" (Our way). Thereafter, since the mid-1990s, Mirgadirov worked at the "Shargh" news agency. He was then deputy editor of the magazine "Monitor" and edited the opposition newspaper "Azerbaijan
70:" (Freedom) in its initial years. In December 1989, he was in Jalilabad region during clashes between internal forces and the local population. Since 1991, he engaged in journalism and worked in the newspaper "Ayna-Zerkalo" ("Ayna" being the Azerbaijani version of the newspaper).
193:
stated that the United States is "disturbed by allegations that his arrest may have been connected with his critical reporting about the
Azerbaijani government or his participation in people-to-people programs aimed at easing tensions and building confidence in the region."
182:
stated: "We call on
Azerbaijani authorities to drop these trumped-up charges and stop abusing the law to silence independent reporting on the country, Azerbaijan is quickly becoming one of the leading jailers of journalists in the Eurasia region."
130:
stated that "The context and timing of
Mirgadirov's arrest suggest that the case against him is politically motivated and intended to punish him for his outspoken views and to send a chilling message to others that dissent will not be tolerated."
437:
168:
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campaign to eradicate its media critics. How could this journalist have transmitted state secrets to which he did not have access?" In its statement the
Committee to Protect Journalists spokeswoman
77:
Since the beginning of the 2000s, Rauf
Mirgadirov worked in the newspaper "Zerkalo". Since 2010 he lived in Turkey with his family working as correspondent.
340:
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Rauf Mirgadirov has a wife and three daughters. His wife, two daughters and Rauf have fled Azerbaijan and have been granted political asylum in
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and graduated from there. After graduation he worked in the publishing house "Azerneshr." Rauf Mirgadirov was part of the newspaper "
88:
several times. While in Armenia, Mirgadirov, a member of Institute for Peace and Democracy (IPD), held meetings with Armenian NGOs.
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421:"EU condemns arrest of Azerbaijani journalist Rauf Mirkadirov and persecutions towards human rights defender Leyla Yunus"
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Rauf Mirgadirov has participated in various international conferences on the issues and settlement of the
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are groundless and that it is impossible for Mirgadirov that have such information in his possession.
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In 2005, Mirgadirov was awarded the title "Honored Journalist of Azerbaijan" by Azerbaijani President
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In 2008, Rauf Mirgadirov was awarded the "Free Press of Eastern Europe" international prize of
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438:"Azerbaïdjan: Arbitrary arrest and acts of harassment of Ms. Leyla Yunus and her husband"
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Rauf Mirgadirov was born in Baku, Azerbaijan in 1961. Mirgadirov studied journalism at
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84:. A believer in "citizen diplomacy" between the two countries, Mirgadirov visited
341:"Azerbaijan: Stop pressuring human rights activist Leyla Yunus and her husband!"
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469:"Azerbaijan should release imprisoned journalists ahead of the European Games"
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50:. A believer in "citizen diplomacy" between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the
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Mirgadirov to Azerbaijan was made immediately after Turkish Prime Minister
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540:"Detained Azeri journalist's family gets political asylum in Switzerland"
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367:"Will Journalist's Arrest End Azerbaijani-Armenian Citizen Diplomacy?"
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Democrática". He also became the chief editor of "Millet" newspaper.
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The Azerbaijan Crackdown: An Update, by DFWATCH STAFF, Apr 25, 2016
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in 2008 for achievements in the development of independent media.
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497:"Abysmal record of human rights continues as activist arrested"
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276:"Turkey deports journalist who is then arrested in Azerbaijan"
440:. International Federation for Human Rights. 30 April 2014.
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309:"Azerbaijan authorities detain Leyla Yunus and Arif Yunus"
512:"Azerbaijani Journalist Accused of Spying for Armenia"
483:"Continuing Pressure on Civil Society in Azerbaijan"
407:"Turkey/Azerbaijan: Journalist Deported, Imprisoned"
323:"Azerbaijan arrests journalist deported from Turkey"
457:. Committee to Protect Journalists. 22 April 2014.
485:. United States Mission to the OSCE. 15 May 2014.
396:. Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe. 17 March 2016.
227:. Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe. 17 March 2016.
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526:"U.S. 'Disturbed' By Arrest of Azeri Journalist"
455:"Azerbaijan jails reporter on espionage charges"
225:Rauf Mirgadirov: "Secret Services Fell for That"
42:columnist and journalist. He has worked for the
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381:"Rauf Mirgadirov's prison term extended again"
143:Rauf Mirgadirov's arrest was condemned by the
295:"Azeri-Armenian enmity and citizen diplomacy"
260:(in Russian). Кавказский узел. 10 April 2015.
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311:. Human Rights House Network. 5 August 2014.
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514:. Institute for War & Peace Reporting.
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589:Prisoners and detainees of Azerbaijan
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574:Azerbaijani human rights activists
343:. Civic Solidarity. 30 April 2014.
293:Goudsouzian, Tanya (12 May 2014).
153:World Organisation Against Torture
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365:Abbasov, Shahin (22 April 2014).
274:Greenslade, Roy (24 April 2014).
169:United States Mission to the OSCE
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542:. PanArmenian. 22 December 2014.
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161:Committee to Protect Journalists
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28:Rauf Habibulla oghlu Mirgadirov
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471:. Reporters Without Borders.
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579:People deported from Turkey
64:Azerbaijan State University
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139:International condemnation
106:Arrest, trial and sentence
594:Free Media Awards winners
165:Reporters Without Borders
82:Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
52:Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
528:. RFE/RL. 25 April 2014.
499:. Amnesty International.
394:Rauf Mirgadirov Released
423:. Panorama. 5 May 2014.
126:A spokeswoman for the
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16:Azerbaijani journalist
564:Journalists from Baku
409:. Human Rights Watch.
175:Amnesty International
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113:Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
38:; born 1961) is an
383:. APA. 6 May 2015.
145:Human Rights Watch
128:Human Rights Watch
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258:"Миркадыров Рауф"
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58:Life and career
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559:1961 births
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151:officials,
121:Leyla Yunus
40:Azerbaijani
32:Azerbaijani
23:Mirgadirov.
553:Categories
369:. Eurasia.
210:References
189:spokesman
191:Jen Psaki
86:Armenia
68:Azadlig
48:Zerkalo
44:Baku
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