Freedom House has called on the United States and other nations to send ambassadors or other high-ranking officials to attend the pending trials of imprisoned human rights defenders in Azerbaijan.

“U.S. Ambassador Robert Cekuta and other nations’ ambassadors can send a strong message of support for Azerbaijan’s human rights defenders by attending these politically motivated proceedings, ” said Mark P. Lagon, president of Freedom House.

“We also urge the United States and other governments to condemn these trials for what they are – farcical, politically motivated attempts to silence dissent in Azerbaijan and hide government corruption. The charges filed against political prisoners should be dropped, and all political prisoners should be immediately released.”