Afgan Sadigov: Azerbaijani Journalist Detained After Forced Return From Georgia

Afgan Sadigov, an Azerbaijani journalist and founder of the independent media outlet Azel.tv, was forcibly returned from Georgia to Azerbaijan in April 2026 and detained again two months later. His case has raised serious concerns among international human rights organizations over freedom of expression, arbitrary detention, transnational repression, and the use of legal procedures to target government critics.

Who Is Afgan Sadigov?

Afgan Sadigov is an Azerbaijani journalist and the founder and editor-in-chief of Azel.tv, a regional online media platform known for reporting on alleged corruption, government misconduct, and social problems in Azerbaijan.

His journalism has frequently been critical of Azerbaijani authorities. According to Human Rights Watch, Sadigov has faced criminal prosecution in Azerbaijan on several occasions since 2016, with rights organizations describing previous cases against him as retaliation for his journalistic activities.

In November 2020, a court in Baku sentenced Sadigov to seven years in prison on extortion charges. He was released early in 2022 following a pardon.

Leaving Azerbaijan

Sadigov moved to Georgia in December 2023, where he continued his journalistic work.

In August 2024, Georgian authorities arrested him following an Azerbaijani request for his extradition. Azerbaijani authorities had accused him of extortion.

Sadigov denied the allegations and sought international protection in Georgia, arguing that he faced a serious risk of political persecution if returned to Azerbaijan.

His case eventually reached the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

In January 2025, the Court issued an interim measure preventing Georgia from extraditing Sadigov to Azerbaijan while the case was being considered. A further interim measure was issued in February 2025. Sadigov was later released on bail in April 2025.

Deportation From Georgia

The situation changed dramatically in April 2026.

On April 1, 2026, Azerbaijani authorities informed Georgian authorities that the criminal investigation that had formed the basis of the extradition request had been terminated.

On April 3, a Georgian court lifted restrictions that had previously been imposed on Sadigov.

However, late on April 4, Georgian police arrested him at his home in Tbilisi.

According to Human Rights Watch and FIDH/OMCT, the arrest was based on an allegation that a social media post constituted an insult to a police officer.

The following morning, April 5, 2026, a court hearing took place in the early hours. Sadigov was fined 2,000 Georgian lari and ordered to leave Georgia. He was subsequently deported to Azerbaijan.

Human rights organizations have questioned the circumstances surrounding the deportation, particularly because the European Court of Human Rights had previously issued a binding interim measure concerning his transfer.

FIDH and OMCT described the forced return as a serious test of the Council of Europe's human rights system and raised concerns about the principle of non-refoulement — the obligation not to return a person to a country where they face a real risk of persecution, torture, or other serious human rights violations.

Detained Again in Azerbaijan

After his return to Azerbaijan, Sadigov was initially questioned by Azerbaijani authorities and released.

However, the situation did not end there.

According to Human Rights Watch, Azerbaijani authorities later prevented Sadigov from leaving the country. On June 8, 2026, several masked men in civilian clothing detained him in Baku, according to his family and lawyer.

A court subsequently ordered that he remain in pretrial detention until July 30, 2026.

The circumstances created a significant contradiction.

Azerbaijani authorities had formally terminated the criminal investigation on April 1, shortly before Sadigov's deportation from Georgia. Yet after his return, his lawyer said the case was treated as active again and that authorities continued investigating it.

Human Rights Watch described the sequence as raising serious concerns that legal procedures had been manipulated across borders to facilitate the journalist's return and subsequent detention.

Concerns Over Transnational Repression

Sadigov's case has become particularly significant because it extends beyond Azerbaijan's borders.

International organizations have described the case as an example of transnational repression — when governments use legal, administrative, or other measures outside their own territory to pressure, silence, or punish critics living abroad.

Human Rights Watch said Sadigov's renewed detention raises serious concerns about the use of cross-border legal procedures to silence government critics.

FIDH and OMCT similarly described the case as part of a broader pattern of repression against Azerbaijani journalists and human rights defenders beyond the country's borders.

Amnesty International has also documented a wider pattern of Azerbaijani authorities targeting journalists, activists, human rights defenders, and other critics both inside and outside the country.

European Court of Human Rights

The European Court of Human Rights remains an important part of Sadigov's case.

The Court had previously issued an interim measure preventing his extradition to Azerbaijan.

Following his transfer in April 2026, the Court requested additional observations from the parties concerning whether the transfer could have violated Article 34 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right of individuals to bring applications before the Court without interference.

The issue remains significant because interim measures issued by the Court are legally binding on the states concerned.

Why the Case Matters

Afgan Sadigov's case is not only about one journalist.

It raises broader questions about:

• Freedom of expression
• Freedom of the press
• Protection of journalists
• The right to a fair hearing
• Protection against arbitrary detention
• The principle of non-refoulement
• Compliance with European Court of Human Rights decisions
• Transnational repression of government critics

Human Rights Watch has warned that Sadigov's return to Azerbaijan exposed him to a credible risk of politically motivated prosecution and ill-treatment. The organization has called on Azerbaijani authorities to guarantee his safety, refrain from arbitrary detention and prosecution, and respect his rights.

The Broader Situation for Journalists in Azerbaijan

Sadigov's case comes amid growing international concern over the treatment of independent journalists and civil society activists in Azerbaijan.

In 2026, international rights organizations continued to report arrests and prosecutions involving journalists, media workers, human rights defenders, and government critics.

The cases of Abzas Media, Toplum TV, and other independent media outlets have further intensified concerns about the shrinking space for independent journalism in Azerbaijan.

For journalists working in the country, criminal prosecution, detention, travel restrictions, and other forms of pressure remain significant concerns.

Against this background, the case of Afgan Sadigov has attracted particular attention because it involves not only his treatment in Azerbaijan but also the actions taken against him while he was living in exile in Georgia.

Where Does the Case Stand?

As of August 30, 2026, Afgan Sadigov remains at the center of legal proceedings in Azerbaijan following his detention in June.

International human rights organizations continue to call for his release and for respect for his rights as a journalist and government critic.

His case remains under international scrutiny, particularly because of the circumstances surrounding his forced return from Georgia and his subsequent detention in Azerbaijan.

The case of Afgan Sadigov illustrates the increasingly difficult environment faced by independent journalists and government critics from Azerbaijan — including those who attempt to continue their work from abroad.

Sources

• Human Rights Watch — Georgia: Deported Azerbaijani Journalist at Risk, April 10, 2026.
• Human Rights Watch — Azerbaijan Rearrests Journalist Forcibly Returned from Georgia, June 12, 2026.
• FIDH/OMCT — Georgia/Azerbaijan: Arbitrary detention of journalist Afgan Sadigov, July 23, 2026.
• FIDH/OMCT — The forced return of Afgan Sadigov to Azerbaijan, April 20, 2026.
• Amnesty International — Azerbaijan: Stop persecution of critics at home and in exile, July 2, 2026.