The Release of Civil Society Activists in Azerbaijan

Welcoming the Release of Civil Society Activists in Azerbaijan

Press Statement Jen Psaki
Department Spokesperson Washington, DC March 19, 2015

The United States welcomes the March 18 pardon and release of Bashir Suleymanli, the Executive Director of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center in Azerbaijan, as well as three others considered by Azerbaijani NGOs to have been incarcerated for their civic activism. We call on Azerbaijan to take additional positive steps in the months ahead, including the release of others considered to have been incarcerated for their civic activity. Doing so would demonstrate the government’s adherence to OSCE and other international commitments to uphold the fundamental freedoms of all its citizens.

ENDS

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