U.S. Ambassador to the OSCE, Daniel B. Baer, has made another statement at the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna in regard to the violation of human rights and freedoms in Azerbaijan, contact.az reports.

Recalling that on November 3 he already expressed concern about the decision of an Azerbaijani court to sentence activist Giyas Ibrahimov to ten years in prison on political and fabricated charges, Baer stressed that on December 8, the Azerbaijani authorities sentenced another activist, Bayram Mammadov, to ten years in prison on similar charges.

“We are concerned by the sentencing of both individuals, and by allegations of ill-treatment during their detention. We urge the Azerbaijani government to release Mr. Mammadov and Mr. Ibrahimov, as well as all 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,” the Ambassador noted.  

“The United States again urges the Azerbaijani government to abide by its OSCE and other international commitments,” the statement reads.