U.S. Calls For Immediate Release of Elchin Mammad And Other Azerbaijanis Incarcerated Without Just Cause

Washington D.C./30.03.23/Turan:  The United States continues to urge Azerbaijani authorities to release political prisoners, including journalist and human rights lawyer Elchin Mammad, a State Department spokesperson on Wednesday told TURAN's Washington correspondent.

"We call for the immediate release of Elchin Mammadov and other Azerbaijanis incarcerated without just cause, and call on Azerbaijan to respect fundamental freedoms, including of expression, association, and assembly," the spokesperson went on.

Today, March 30, marks three years since Mammad was arbitrarily arrested by police officers at his home in the city of Sumgait, following the publication online of report criticizing the human rights situation in Azerbaijan.

His case, along with several others', has been highlighted by the State Department as part of its initiative called Without Just Cause (WJC).

Building on its commitment at the Democracy Summit, the Biden Administration in January announced the WJC to advocate for the release of individuals worldwide who are detained unfairly. Among them also is Vladimir Kara-Murza, a prominent Russian political activist and journalist who has been detained since last April.

"We also continue to urge Russian authorities to release Vladimir Kara-Murza immediately and ensure he receives all appropriate medical care" a State Department spokesperson told TURAN.  On March 3, the United States designated for sanctions and visa restrictions six individuals in connection with the arbitrary detention of Kara-Murza. "We are committed to promoting accountability for these actions," the spokesperson said.

Asked about the tools that the WJC has been using since its launch, the spokesperson said "it is about highlighting the alarming trend of governments locking up people for political purposes based on their peaceful exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms".

"We hope to see each of them freed. We seek to let these prisoners, their loved ones, and the world know that they are not forgotten," the spokesperson added.

The United States urges all countries and people who believe in the universality of human rights and fundamental freedoms to support the WJC initiative. "We will continue to use a range of tools, including public advocacy and private engagements, to call attention to their plight," the spokesperson said.

On March 3, the State Department added to Without Just Cause a new profile to the list of political prisoners, Nicaraguan Bishop Rolando Alvarez, who was unjustly sentenced to 26 years. In support of this initiative, U.S. diplomats in Washington and around the world have actively engaged in political-prisoner advocacy efforts, including engaging with host governments and meeting with family members of political prisoners and NGOs.

"U.S. diplomats have partnered with likeminded countries, including at the current UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva, to highlight the issues faced by political prisoners and press for their release," the spokesperson said.

One recent example was this week — on March 27 —  at the Lithuanian Embassy in Washington DC, where U.S. Under Secretary of State Uzra Zeya and others joined in an event on this issue alongside political prisoners, and family members of current political prisoners, and called for the immediate release of all who are held without just cause.

Alex Raufoglu