US Calls on Azerbaijan

The United States is concerned about the ongoing arrests of members of civil society in Azerbaijan, said Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the US State Department, during a news briefing. This statement came in response to the arrest of prominent economist and journalist Farid Mehralizade, who was detained as part of an investigation involving Abzas Media.

Miller emphasized that those who exercise their fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of speech, should not be arrested for doing so. “We are deeply troubled by the ongoing arrests of civil society members in Azerbaijan. Those who are enjoying their fundamental freedoms, including the right to free expression, should not be detained for that,” Miller highlighted.

The United States has urged Azerbaijan to immediately release all unjustly imprisoned individuals and to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms.

It should be noted that the Baku Khatai District Court has ordered the detention of economist Farid Mehralizade for a period of 3 months and 20 days. He is involved in the case of the independent publication Abzas Media, with a group of its employees accused of being part of an organized group involved in currency smuggling (Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan). Mehralizade has also been charged under the currency smuggling article. He has denied the charges against him in court, stating that he has no practical ties to the Abzas Media publication.