YEREVAN. – The European Union (EU) is concerned by the arrest of Azerbaijani journalist Khadija Ismayilova.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, announced the abovementioned at his joint news conference, on Friday in Armenia’s capital city of Yerevan, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian.

Rinkēvičs stressed that the rule of law, freedom of speech, and human rights are a priority for both Latvia and the EU, in general.

“We are concerned and we plan to discuss this matter with Azerbaijan. We hope that the fundamental freedoms will be respected.

“The [EU] Eastern partnership is not solely an economic or a political cooperation; it is a shared value system, and media freedom is a part of this system,” the Latvian FM stressed.

Khadija Ismayilova, the loudest critic of the Azerbaijani government, was detained on December 5 in Azerbaijan. She is charged with pushing a person toward committing suicide. If convicted, Ismailova may face up to seven years in prison.