A court in the Azerbaijani capital Baku has ruled that a journalist who works for an Iranian television broadcaster will remain in pre-trial detention center as a drugs investigation continues.
Anar Bayralmli, an Azerbaijani citizen who works as a reporter for Iranian Sahar TV, was detained on February 17 for allegedly possessing some 0.4 grams of heroin.
The Baku court decided on February 20 to extend his detention.
The case is occurring amid tensions between the Azerbaijani and Iranian governments.
The Islamic regime in Tehran has reportedly been displeased by friendlier links between Azerbaijan and Israel in recent months, while Azerbaijan has accused Iran of sponsoring Islamic radicals on its territory.
Bayramli’s employer, Sahar TV, has been accused by the Azerbaijani authorities of broadcasting propaganda into neighboring Azerbaijan.