Will Bolton Raise Human Rights in Azerbaijan?

Washington D.C./12.10.18/Turan: "On October 20th I'll be traveling to Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia to meet with my counterparts and other senior officials to advance American interests on a range of security issues," John Bolton, assistant to U.S. President for national security affairs, tweeted last night.

"Please raise #Azerbaijan human rights -- HR violations weaken our partnership," Richard Kauzlarich, former U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan, tweeted back hours later.

A top U.S. official, who is knowledgeable about the current state of U.S.-Azerbaijani relations, told Turan that Bolton's visit to Azerbaijan will be "yet another step forward in deepening the two countries" strategic partnership," citing the recent trip of Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs George Kent to the region.

During his meetings with Azerbaijani officials, Mr. Kent "did raise the cases of unjustly imprisoned political activists and journalists," a source claimed.

Ambassador Bolton's trip, he added, confirms that the security issues of the South Caucasus region as a whole takes an important place in the agenda of the US administration.

Human rights experts worry that the way Azerbaijani government treats its citizens is getting sidelined in the effort to secure security cooperation. "Avoiding the rights issue would send the "wrong message," a source told Turan. "Consider this [upcoming trip] as a continuation of an ongoing negotiations between the high level officials."

Another diplomat, who is also involved in U.S.-Azerbaijani dialogs, told Turan that Washington "wants to work with Azerbaijan economically and militarily," but added Bolton "would also raise sensitive issues of human rights with President Aliyev in this contexts."

Relations between the two countries have been badly strained in recent years as Azerbaijan, according media watchdog groups, ranks among the top countries for jailing members of the media.

Aliyev government has also blocked independent and western news websites, including the U.S.-backed RFERL and other broadcasting services.-0-