A.S. v. GEORGIA AND AZERBAIJAN

Published on 7 July 2025 FOURTH SECTIONApplication no. 36296/24A.S. against Georgia and Azerbaijanlodged on 9 December 2024communicated on 16 June 2025SUBJECT MATTER OF THE CASEThe application concerns the pending extradition of the applicant (an Azerbaijani national, a well-known journalist and a chief editor of a news portal) from Georgia to Azerbaijan, where he is sought on charges of extortion in relation to public officials. Due to the alleged harassment and persecution by the Azerbaijani authorities, the applicant left Azerbaijan and moved to Georgia in December 2023. In early July 2024 his wife and two minor children joined him. On 18 July 2024 the Georgian border police prevented the applicant and his family from travelling to Bosnia and Herzegovina for reasons that remain unclear. Criminal proceedings, which were promptly initiated at the applicant’s request in connection with t …