The United States is concerned by the decisions of Azerbaijani courts to sentence N!DA activists Bayram Mammadov and Giyas Ibrahimov to ten years in prison on charges of drug possession that are widely considered to be politically motivated, spokesperson for State Department Mark Toner said in a statement.

“We are also concerned by allegations of ill-treatment during their detention. We urge the Azerbaijani government to release Mr. Mammadov and Mr. Ibrahimov as well as other individuals who have been incarcerated for exercising their fundamental freedoms. We also urge the government of Azerbaijan to remove the travel ban on journalist Khadija Ismailova, which the supreme court upheld yesterday, and drop the remaining charges against her.”

Bayram Mammadov and Giyas Ibrahimov painted a defiant message on the statue of Azerbaijan’s former president – on the eve of his birthday. The following day they were arrested and jailed on sham drug charges.