The US has expressed concern over the decision of the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan to rejected the appeal of imprisoned oppositionist Ilgar Mammadov, reports the Voice of America.

" The United States joins the Council of Europe, the European Union, and others in expressing concern about the decision of the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan to deny REAL Chairman Ilgar Mammadov’s appeal on November 18," reads the statement of the State Department spokesman John Kirby.

Mammadov was arrested in 2013 and sentenced to 7 years in prison for political activities in Azerbaijan recognized as illegal. The verdict against him raised criticism from human rights defenders in other countries in Europe and around the world.

"We urge the Azerbaijani authorities to drop all charges against Mr. Mammadov, to comply with the 2014 European Court of Human Rights ruling on his case, and to release Mr. Mammadov and other individuals who have been incarcerated for exercising their fundamental freedoms," said Kirby.