UK star lawyer Cherie Blair said on Tuesday she is investigating possible human rights abuses against Mubariz Mansimov, a beleaguered Turkish-Azeri shipowner who faces terrorism charges in Turkey.

She is joined on the defence team by other high-profile international lawyers.

“Mrs Blair will lead investigations into apparent human rights violations in the case,” said Omnia Strategy, the law company she founded, in a statement on 28 April.