The US State Department once again called on the Azerbaijani government to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms.
“As President Biden said on World Press Freedom Day, journalism is not a crime – it is fundamental to a free society. The recent spate of arrests of journalists, civil society activists and opposition figures in Azerbaijan is deeply troubling. In just the last month, more than a dozen people have been detained,” the State Department emphasized.
Recently, there have been repressions against independent journalists and activists in Azerbaijan. Director of the online publication Abzas Media Ulvi Hasanli, editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgyzy, journalists Nargiz Absalamova, Shamo Emina, Elnara Gasymova, as well as activist Mohammed Kekalov, who collaborated with Abzas Media, were arrested. They were accused of smuggling foreign currency. Numerous international human rights and journalistic organizations have demanded their release.
