Prague – Radio Prague International, November 12, 2024
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala successfully intervened to secure the release of a Czech citizen imprisoned in Azerbaijan earlier this year, following a diplomatic appeal to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The incident took place amid ongoing tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which have yet to establish a formal peace deal after their 2020 conflict.
The Czech mountaineer reportedly entered Azerbaijan from Armenia outside an official border crossing, navigating snow-covered minefields on skis and carrying two passports along with a telephoto camera. Detained by a military patrol, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison, though similar cases typically result in fines.
