Washington urges the Azerbaijani government to uphold its commitments to protect the safety and security of writer Akram Aylisli and all of its citizens, State Department said.

“We have been watching this very closely. It’s our understanding today that the Modern Musavat party has now rescinded the offer and law enforcement authorities have called in this individual for questioning, which is the right way for this to go. Obviously, we strongly support and believe in respect for freedom of expression,” US State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland stated during a press briefing on Wednesday.

Asked whether the U.S. embassy is interacting with the government on the issue, Nuland said “they are.”

Azerbaijani government launched a campaign of intimidation against writer Akram Aylisli, who had dared to write good things about Armenians in his recent novel. Head of Azerbaijani pro-government Hafiz Hajiyev publicly said that he would pay 10,000 manat to anyone who would cut off Aylisli’s ear.