YEREVAN. – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office ducked a question on persecution of opposition reporters in Azerbaijan.

During the Monday press conference in Yerevan. Leonid Kozhara was asked whether Ukraine intends to take any steps to change situation with persecution of opposition reporters in Azerbaijan.

“Our presidency has welcomed Azerbaijan’s decision to invite foreign observers to the elections. We also discussed the status of the OSCE Office in Azerbaijan. Ukraine, as the country chairing the OSCE, believes that it is the sovereign right of every state to select the format of international organizations. But we also believe that the OSCE should be a team game. We are all members of this organization because we have a common view on some fundamental principles of organization and functioning of our societies and states. We therefore welcomed the Azerbaijan’s openness to the upcoming elections. I think that the OSCE mission will arrive and will take an active position,” he responded.

Presidential elections in Azerbaijan are slated for October.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am