'Deeply Troubled': State Dept Reacts To Arrest Of Farid Mehralizade, Urges Azerbaijan To Release Those Unjustly Detained
The United States on Wednesday reiterated its call on the Azerbaijani government to "immediately release all individuals who are unjustly detained and to respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all," as the State Department Spokesperson put it, when reacting to the arrest of yet another prominent civil society member in Azerbaijan, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.
Farid Mehralizade, a prominent economic commentator and journalist, was detained late last week as part of the government’s ongoing crackdown on AbzasMedia. Both Mehralizade and the news outlet deny having any ties.
In response to TURAN's inquiry for reaction to the latest arrest, Matthew Miller, the State Department spokesperson, told a daily briefing that they are "deeply troubled by the continued arrest of members of Azerbaijani civil society."
"Those who exercise their fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, should not face arrest for doing so," Miller emphasized.
The spokesperson went on to conclude: "We continue to urge the Azerbaijani Government to immediately release all individuals who are unjustly detained and to respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all."
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, a New York-based watchdog, Azerbaijan in recent months mounted a renewed assault on independent media by detaining at least a dozen journalists from outlets AbzasMedia, Kanal 13, and Toplum TV; namely Ulvi Hasanli, Sevinj Vagifgizi, Mahammad Kekalov, Hafiz Babali, Elnara Gasimova, Nargiz Absalamova, Aziz Orujov, Shamo Eminov, Alasgar Mammadli, and Mushfig Jabbar, and others, constituting a crackdown on journalists that was in part retaliation for their reporting on official corruption.
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- In World
- 6 June 2024 09:53
Politics
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Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who arrived in Baku today, held a press conference at the COP29 climate conference. When asked about the arrested climate activists and opposition figures in Azerbaijan, she stated that Germany advocates for the release of government critics and that she would raise this issue during her meeting with Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister. She specifically mentioned the name of Professor Gubad Ibadoglu, a doctor from Dresden University.
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The General Assembly of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) adopted a resolution on Friday reaffirming its commitment to democratic reforms, regional stability, and European integration amidst escalating geopolitical tensions driven by Russia's ongoing aggression in Ukraine.
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Activist Nijat Ibrahim, who was detained in Baku pre-trial detention center-1, inflicted numerous wounds on himself on November 20 in protest against unjustified criminal prosecution, his wife Parvin Ibrahim told Turan. According to her, on November 21, her husband called her and informed her that the day before he had inflicted incised wounds on himself with a piece of mirror. In particular, he cut his throat and ears.
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UN Secretary-General António Guterres confirmed today that the countries participating in the COP29 climate conference in Baku have not yet reached an agreement on funding for climate change mitigation for the coming year. "I am not part of the negotiations, but as the UN Secretary-General, I urge countries to reach an agreement and not waste time. As I have said before, the clock is ticking," he said at a press conference in Baku. When asked by journalists who was delaying the decision on funding and why, he did not provide an answer.
Türkiyə İsraillə münasibətləri kəsdi. Azərbaycanın bu addıma münasibəti necə olacaq? – Əhməd Əlili Çətin sualda
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