MIA: Court fines Azerbaijani citizen Afgan Sadygov 2,000 GEL, orders expulsion from Georgia

An Azerbaijani citizen, Afgan Sadygov, was administratively detained by officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) and brought before the court, the MIA said in a statement.

According to the agency, the Tbilisi City Court found Sadygov in violation of Article 173 of the Code of Administrative Offenses — in particular, for insulting a police officer on social media. He was fined 2,000 GEL, expelled from Georgia, and banned from re-entering the country for three years.

The court took into account the position of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as well as the fact that the individual had previously been identified 62 times for various administrative offenses, including violations related to assembly and demonstrations, for which he had twice served administrative detention.

In addition, among other circumstances, the court considered information provided by Azerbaijani law enforcement agencies regarding security concerns related to Afgan Sadygov,” the statement said.

The MIA also addressed extradition-related issues.

“For several years, Azerbaijan had requested the extradition of Afgan Sadygov in connection with a criminal case. However, following an interim measure imposed by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, Georgia did not extradite him. Recently, the Georgian side was officially informed that the Azerbaijani Prosecutor’s Office had terminated the criminal proceedings. Accordingly, all extradition procedures in Georgia were also discontinued.

Subsequently, Sadygov committed an administrative offense, which under Georgian law provides not only a fine but also expulsion and an entry ban. Based on the court’s decision, he was expelled to his country of origin and barred from entering Georgia for three years,” the MIA stated.

The ministry emphasized that human rights and freedoms are protected in Georgia, while the state maintains a balance between individual rights and national security.

“Individuals without legal grounds who violate the law will be subject to measures determined by law, in full compliance with the rule of law,” the statement concluded.