State Department Urges Azerbaijan To Release Tofig Yagublu and Bakhtiyar Hajiyev 'Expeditiously'

The State Department on Monday reacted to the latest human rights concerns in Azerbaijan involving jailed government critics Tofig Yagublu and Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

"We’re deeply troubled by the arrest and detention of Bakhtiyar Hajiyev and Tofig Yagublu," State Department spokesperson Ned Price told a daily press briefing in response to TURAN's request for comment "We urge the authorities to release them expeditiously," Price said.

Both Yagublu and Hajiyev are holding hunger strikes in jail as a protest against the illegalities of the Azerbaijani authorities..

Price said that the U.S. remains "strongly committed" to advancing respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. "And again, we urge the government to respect its citizens’ right, including the rights to express views peacefully," the spokesperson concluded.

Hajiyev was detained early December and is accused of "hooliganism" and "contempt of court", allegations that human rights organizations say are politically motivated.

Mr. Yagublu was detained on Dec 23 at a protest rally in the center of Baku demanding the release of Bakhtiyar Hajiyev. He is on his sixth day of hunger strike today, with his wife and other activists joining in solidarity.

The latest arrests come amid a recent crackdown on opposition party functionaries and activists by the Azerbaijani government.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.