“We are deeply troubled by the April 16 decision of an Azerbaijani court to sentence prominent human rights activist Rasul Jafarov to a six and a half - year prison term on charges widely considered to be politically motivated”,-reads a statement of the acting State Department Spokesperson Marie Harf on April 16.
“A founder and chairman of the Human Rights Club, Jafarov was arrested last August as part of a broad crackdown on human rights activists. His conviction is a further setback to Azerbaijan’s democratic development.
We urge the Government of Azerbaijan to abide by its international commitments and respect the rights of its citizens.
As a first step, we urge the authorities to release Mr. Jafarov and others incarcerated in connection with exercising their fundamental freedoms. Doing so would strengthen the country’s long-term stability and our bilateral relationship”,- said Marie Harf.-02D-
Politics
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On the evening of February 5, it was reported that journalist Shahnaz Beylargizi had been arrested. She had been a presenter on the Toplum TV channel for several years. After a criminal case was initiated against the channel in March 2024 and nearly all of its staff were arrested, Beylargizi was questioned multiple times. According to relatives, the police conducted a search of her apartment.
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By a presidential decree dated February 5, Mukhtar Babaev has been appointed the presidential representative for climate issues.
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On February 5, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine. According to the document, the Ministry of Energy has been allocated 1 million US dollars to purchase and send electrical equipment, manufactured in Azerbaijan, to Ukraine.
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The trial of Aziz Orudjev, the head of the online publication Kanal-13, continued on February 5 at the Sabail District Court.
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