A senior U.S. official on Wednesday reiterated Washington's commitment to human rights and free media "all around the world including in Azerbaijan."
Speaking to TURAN's US correspondent a senior State Department official expressed his concern over deteriorating media freedoms "among countries deemed to be our friends and partners."
"We all understand the role and importance of investigative journalism and free media," an official said.
When asked about a recent court decision in Azerbaijan to permanently block several independent online media outlets critical of the government, the official said, "we will continue to follow developments [in Azerbaijan]."
Late last week, a Baku court decided to block the websites of five media outlets, including the U.S. Congress-funded RFE/RL's Azeri language website.
Speaking to TURAN's Washington correspondent on Wednesday, May 17, the Congressional Helsinki Commission Chairman Senator Roger Wicker expressed his concern over the move.
"It is a real concern," he said. "We will continue to raise our concern at the leadership level."
A.Raufoglu
Washington, D.C.
Politics
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On January 23, the Deputy Commander of the Azerbaijani Ground Forces, Ilgar Latifov, met with a Pakistani delegation headed by the Director General of Military Operations, Abdullah Kashif. The parties discussed the state and prospects for the development of military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Pakistan, as well as the importance of increasing the intensity of joint exercises.
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The announcement of 2025 as the "Year of the Constitution and Sovereignty" in Azerbaijan has sparked rumors and speculation about the government's plans to hold a constitutional referendum this year. Today's statement in the Milli Majlis by the head of the parliamentary committee on human rights and concurrently the director of the Center for Humanitarian Studies, Zahid Oruj, confirmed that these expectations are not groundless.
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As part of the peace process with Azerbaijan, Armenia has proposed solutions to all agenda issues, stated Armen Grigoryan, Secretary of Armenia's Security Council, on January 23. "We are not asking for peace, we are offering peaceful solutions to all existing issues. For the two unresolved points, we have sent proposals and are waiting for a response from the Azerbaijani side. We hope that we will find solutions," Grigoryan said, according to Armenian media. Meanwhile, the press service of Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Turan that "negotiations on the text of the peace agreement are ongoing."
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On January 23, Hilal Mammadov, a member of the Board of the Public Council of Talysh of Azerbaijan (OSTA), was interrogated by the State Security Service (SGB) as a witness in the case of researcher Igbal Abilov, who is accused of treason. As reported by Turan, Mammadov was questioned about Abilov's activities, scientific works, and publications.
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