The Social Justice Center (SJC) has lodged another complaint with the European Court of Human Rights regarding the case of Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Sadygov. The proceedings concern holding Sadygov administratively liable, his expulsion from Georgia, and the imposition of a three-year entry ban over a Facebook post published in April 2026.
According to the center, on April 3, a court lifted the restrictions previously imposed on Sadygov in Georgia after Azerbaijani authorities notified that the criminal prosecution against him had been dropped. However, as early as April 4, Sadygov was detained at his home.
A few hours later, a court fined him 2,000 GEL, ordered his expulsion from Georgia, and barred him from entering the country for three years. That very night, Sadygov was transported to Azerbaijan.
The Social Justice Center stated that the complaint submitted to the Strasbourg court alleges violations of Articles 6, 10, and 18 of the European Convention on Human Rights. According to the organization, penalizing and deporting Sadygov for a Facebook post violated his freedom of expression, and his right to a fair trial was infringed upon during the judicial proceedings.
The center also highlights a crucial fact: upon his return to Azerbaijan, the criminal case against Sadygov was reopened, and he was placed in pre-trial detention on the exact same charges that had previously served as the basis for his requested extradition.
The Social Justice Center affirmed that it will continue to defend Afgan Sadygov’s interests before the Strasbourg court and urged the Azerbaijani authorities to immediately release the journalist.
