Conviction of Azerbaijani Human Rights Activist

Conviction of Azerbaijani Human Rights Activist Rasul Jafarov

Press Statement
Marie Harf
Acting Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
April 16, 2015

We are deeply troubled by the April 16 decision of an Azerbaijani court to sentence prominent human rights activist Rasul Jafarov to a six and a half - year prison term on charges widely considered to be politically motivated. A founder and chairman of the Human Rights Club, Jafarov was arrested last August as part of a broad crackdown on human rights activists. His conviction is a further setback to Azerbaijan’s democratic development. We urge the Government of Azerbaijan to abide by its international commitments and respect the rights of its citizens. As a first step, we urge the authorities to release Mr. Jafarov and others incarcerated in connection with exercising their fundamental freedoms. Doing so would strengthen the country’s long-term stability and our bilateral relationship

ENDS

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