Official Baku angry with criticism from the State Department

Official Baku has responded to the statement by the U.S. State Department in connection with the arrest of Director of the Institute for Peace and Democracy (IPD) Leyla Yunus.

Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry described the statement of the State Department as "politicization of the issue and interfering with the investigation," "attempt to question the independence of the judicial system of Azerbaijan."

"In Azerbaijan, nobody is persecuted for his political views and activities. In Azerbaijan, as in any democratic society, where the rule of law is provided, no one can consider himself above the law," the statement of the Foreign Ministry said on August 2.

Next MFA refers to the joint statement of the Prosecutor General and the MNS on 31 July, where Yunus is accused of treason.

The Foreign Ministry also rejected criticism on the limitation of civil society in Azerbaijan.

Official Baku considers not acceptable political pressure on Azerbaijan with such techniques.

As for the allegation that Yunus is persecuted for participating in the "people's diplomacy", the Foreign Ministry said that Azerbaijan has always been a supporter of dialogue between the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of Nagorno-Karabakh. However, social activities and public diplomacy should be conducted under the laws of Azerbaijan, said the Foreign Ministry.

"It would be better if the U.S. State Department, which always argues that it protects the rule of law based on the principles of international law and the decisions of international organizations, thought sanctions against Armenia, which occupied Azerbaijani territories, started a bloody ethnic cleansing and today continues these deeds," the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said in conclusion. -06D-