US Chargé d�Affaires to OSCE called immediately released Mehman Aliyev

Vienna/01.09.17/Turan: Harry R. Kamian, US Charge d'Affairs to OSCE Permanent Council, has made a statement about arrest of director of Turan news agency Mehman Aliyev.

"The United States is deeply troubled by the August 24 arrest and three month pretrial detention of Mehman Aliyev, the prominent editor-in-chief of Azerbaijan"s only remaining independent media outlet, Turan Information Agency. Other restrictive actions against Turan, including freezing its bank accounts and initiating tax evasion charges against it, are also troubling.

These actions by the government of Azerbaijan to curtail freedom of the press and to further restrict freedom of expression are the latest in a negative trend that includes the government"s May decision to block access to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and other independent media websites.

We urge the government of Azerbaijan to immediately release Mehman Aliyev, and all those incarcerated for exercising their fundamental freedoms, in accordance with its international obligations and OSCE commitments", - reads the statement.-0-

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