In response to the brutal attack on Azerbaijani journalist and human
rights activist Ilgar Nasibov, Freedom House issued the following statement:
“The horrific physical assault on Ilgar Nasibov, a journalist, is the latest trauma in a rapidly and radically deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan," said David J. Kramer, president of Freedom House.
"The Government of Azerbaijan seems determined to intimidate human rights activists and any critic of its actions, whether by arrest on false charges or beating, as has happened August 21 to Nasibov. President Ilham Aliyev is entirely wrong if he believes his government can go after its critics without consequences while the world’s attention is focused on other hot spots."
"He and his government should be held responsible for the dangerous and hostile environment they are promoting," Kramer said. "The United States and the European Union should consider sanctions against officials who authorize and carry out these horrific abuses.”
Azerbaijan is rated Not Free in Freedom in the World 2014, Not Free in Freedom of the Press 2014 and Partly Free in Freedom on the Net 2013. -02D-
Politics
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President of the Council of the European Union Antonio Costa called the head of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.
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Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan published a set of proposals on his Facebook page aimed at establishing long-term peace in the region. Among them, he suggested that Azerbaijan should abandon mutual claims against Armenia, including in international courts. Other proposals include: refraining from using belligerent rhetoric, continuing the demarcation of borders, signing a peace agreement that is 90% ready, mutually implementing arms control, creating a joint mechanism to investigate violations of the ceasefire regime, and dissolving the OSCE Minsk Group.
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The United States announced a new and final military aid package to Ukraine under President Joe Biden’s administration. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated in Germany that the total amount of assistance will be $500 million.
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Baku is expected to see the construction of 10 new metro stations. President Ilham Aliyev discussed this during a meeting with journalists on January 7. The head of state noted that locations for the new metro stations have been selected, and investments will start being made this year.
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