The U.S. representative to the OSCE criticizes the persecution of activists in Azerbaijan
Political Counselor of the U.S. Mission to the OSCE, Christopher Robinson, on January 23 at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, expressed concern about the conviction in Azerbaijan to 6-year-prison punishment an opposition activist Yadigar Sadigov.
"The United States is concerned with the court verdict in Azerbaijan on 23 January of imprisonment on charges of hooliganism, Yadigar Sadigov. Mr. Sadigov was a political activist and advisor to the head of the opposition party "Musavat". He was arrested in June 2013 before the start of the election campaign of the presidential election on October 9," said Robinson.
The arrest and subsequent conviction of Sadigov is another fact in a series of alarm events involving civil society and political pluralism in Azerbaijan. "We continue to closely monitor the investigation of the case against Anar Mammadov, the head of the Election Monitoring and Democratic Studies Center (EMDS) and NGO "International Cooperation Volunteers" , allegedly accused of illegal business and tax evasion. We have previously expressed our concerns to the Permanent Council that detention of Mr.Mammadov was associated with his organization monitoring the elections. We also continue to closely monitor and encourage investigation, and provide appropriate legal procedures in cases against the leader of the "Republican Alternative" Ilgar Mammadov and deputy chairman of "Musavat", Tofig Yagublu arrested for incitement Ismailly residents to protest peacefully, and against youth activists NIDA, who were arrested during a protest against the non-combat deaths in the army," said further Robinson.
He also repeated the U.S. call for the Azerbaijani government to fulfill their OSCE commitments on human rights and fundamental freedoms, the rule of law , including ensuring transparency and fairness in litigation.
The United States also call on President Ilham Aliyev not to approve recently adopted restrictive amendments to NGO legislation, and in accordance with the call of the Special Rapporteur of the United Nations on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, Maina Kiai, identify opportunities for bringing them in line with international standards and obligations to OSCE.
Robinson's statement has been posted on the website of the U.S. Mission OSCE. -06D—
Politics
-
On December 23, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a congratulatory message to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of his birthday.
-
The U.S. Embassy responded to the host of the "Həftə" ("Week") program, who once again accused the United States of pursuing an anti-Azerbaijani policy, using undiplomatic language.
-
On Monday, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, who is currently on a working visit to Belgrade, was received by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. According to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs press service, during the meeting, both sides expressed satisfaction with the "strategic partnership between the two countries" and emphasized the importance of mutual high-level visits.
-
On December 23, a meeting of the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Serbia took place in Belgrade. During the final press conference, Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric reported that the discussions focused on the development of tourism. "We are strengthening efforts to open direct air routes, as well as economic development and energy," said Djuric. The minister expressed confidence that cooperation between Serbia and Azerbaijan would become even closer and more intensive in the near future.
Leave a review