US concerned over Azeri rights record

The United States is concerned over the situation with human rights and media freedom in Azerbaijan, the Department of State said in a statement.

US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov discussed related matters during a joint video-conference last week, the statement said.

International media organizations have reported that Azerbaijani authorities allegedly take advantage of defamation and libel clauses to silence journalists criticizing them.

The issue was also in focus during US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza’s visit to Baku last week.*