US Issues Call to Azerbaijan

The US embassy in Baku has expressed concern over the arrests of journalists in Azerbaijan. “We are deeply concerned about the arrest of Hafiz Babali, as well as the recent cases of journalists being detained. We continue to call on the Azerbaijani government to respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all citizens, including those exercising freedom of speech and the press,” stated the embassy on its X microblog.

It is noteworthy that earlier, Azerbaijani investigative journalist Hafiz Babali, who is the economic editor of the independent news agency Turan, was arrested at one of Baku's railway stations. Police first took him to his apartment, searched it, confiscated his computer, mobile phone, and some documents, and then transferred him to a police station.