Açiq mənbələrdən foto.
State Department Urges Azerbaijan To Release Tofig Yagublu and Bakhtiyar Hajiyev 'Expeditiously'
The State Department on Monday reacted to the latest human rights concerns in Azerbaijan involving jailed government critics Tofig Yagublu and Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.
"We’re deeply troubled by the arrest and detention of Bakhtiyar Hajiyev and Tofig Yagublu," State Department spokesperson Ned Price told a daily press briefing in response to TURAN's request for comment "We urge the authorities to release them expeditiously," Price said.
Both Yagublu and Hajiyev are holding hunger strikes in jail as a protest against the illegalities of the Azerbaijani authorities..
Price said that the U.S. remains "strongly committed" to advancing respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. "And again, we urge the government to respect its citizens’ right, including the rights to express views peacefully," the spokesperson concluded.
Hajiyev was detained early December and is accused of "hooliganism" and "contempt of court", allegations that human rights organizations say are politically motivated.
Mr. Yagublu was detained on Dec 23 at a protest rally in the center of Baku demanding the release of Bakhtiyar Hajiyev. He is on his sixth day of hunger strike today, with his wife and other activists joining in solidarity.
The latest arrests come amid a recent crackdown on opposition party functionaries and activists by the Azerbaijani government.
Alex Raufoglu
Washington D.C.
Politics
-
On the 35th birthday of Igbal Abilov, a researcher imprisoned in Azerbaijan, his colleagues and supporters organized celebratory actions in various European cities, including Vilnius, Belgrade, Warsaw, and Porto, to raise awareness about his case. The participants of these actions called for the release of Abilov, who has been recognized by human rights defenders as a political prisoner.
-
As a result of the preliminary investigation, the charge against Aziz Orujov, director of the internet TV channel Kanal 13, under Article 206.3.2 of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code (smuggling committed by a group of individuals in conspiracy) has been dropped. The case has been sent to court only under Article 188.2 of the Criminal Code (unauthorized construction on land without ownership rights). This was reported to Turan by Orujov's wife, journalist Lamia Orujeva.
-
Today, the Baku Serious Crimes Court delivered a verdict in the case of public activist Ilhamiz Guliyev. The court reclassified the charges from Article 234.4.3 (illegal drug trafficking with intent to sell in large quantities) to a lighter charge under Article 234.1-1 (illegal acquisition, possession, manufacturing, processing, or transportation of narcotic substances or psychotropic substances in large quantities without the intent to distribute) of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code and sentenced the activist to three years in prison.
-
On December 12, the Union for "Freedom for Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan" published an updated list of political prisoners, which now includes the names of 331 individuals.
Leave a review