U.S. troubled by circumstances surrounding the arrest of Tofig Yagublu - State Department
The United States is troubled by circumstances surrounding the arrest of and charges against opposition leader Tofig Yagublu in Azerbaijan, a State Department spokesperson told TURAN's Washington correspondent on Thursday, April 2.
Mr. Yagublu has been detained since his arrest on 22 March on suspicion of “hooliganism”. His family and human rights groups are concerned about his health in detention amidst the COVID-19 pandemic taking hold in Azerbaijan.
"We are following developments in the case closely and have raised our concerns with the Government of Azerbaijan. We urge the Azerbaijani authorities to release Mr. Yagublu and all other individuals who have been incarcerated for exercising their fundamental freedoms," the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that the United States supports fundamental freedoms and urges Azerbaijan to act in accordance with its international obligations and commitments in this area.
"As governments around the world respond to the COVID-19 global pandemic, we urge them to avoid restrictions on essential human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the ability of the free press to provide information to the public about the crisis and the government's response. Restricting these rights and freedoms would harm the public's trust in us as leaders, at a time when trust is most needed. Transparency and reliable data are essential to health and human safety during a pandemic," the spokesperson said.
Yagublu is a member of the opposition party Musavat and a senior politician in the National Council of Democratic Forces, a coalition of leading opposition parties and activists. He often raises concerns about the state of human rights in Azerbaijan.
On March 23, a Baku court ordered Yagublu to be held for three months in pretrial custody pending an investigation into charges of "hooliganism committed with a weapon or an object used as a weapon."
New York-based rights group Human Rights Watch said on March 25 that Yagublu was arrested on spurious charges, days after President Ilham Aliyev suggested he would use anti-coronavirus measures against the country's political opposition.
Alex Raufoglu
Washington D.C.
Politics
-
Azerbaijan's Special Communication and Information Security State Service reported significant progress in combating cyber threats during the first 10 months of 2024, including the detection and blocking of millions of malicious links and electronic documents.
-
Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who arrived in Baku today, held a press conference at the COP29 climate conference. When asked about the arrested climate activists and opposition figures in Azerbaijan, she stated that Germany advocates for the release of government critics and that she would raise this issue during her meeting with Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister. She specifically mentioned the name of Professor Gubad Ibadoglu, a doctor from Dresden University.
-
On November 21, climate activists held a series of protests at the COP29 climate conference in Baku. The main themes of the protests included nuclear weapons testing, animal killings, protection of rivers and water bodies, and environmental pollution.
-
The General Assembly of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) adopted a resolution on Friday reaffirming its commitment to democratic reforms, regional stability, and European integration amidst escalating geopolitical tensions driven by Russia's ongoing aggression in Ukraine.
Leave a review