Azerbaijan "affronted" over U.S. criticism of human rights violations

October 17, 2014 - 13:13 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Azerbaijan declared the U.S. criticism of Baku's violations in treatment of human rights activist Leyla Yunus an "affront."

"The U.S. intervention in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan is absolutely unacceptable," the acting Azeri Foreign Ministry spokesman Hikmet Hajiyev said. "The rule of law and independence of judicial system are prevalent in Azerbaijan, the interference being a flagrant violation of the commitments taken by the United States," Azeri media quoted him as saying.

"Attempts to put political pressure under the guise of human rights protection have already been discredited," he noted, seizing at the chance to complain about "unjust offences" – " It would be useful if, the state, acting heralds of human rights, addressed the violation of the rights of Azerbaijani refugees and displaced persons."

The United States is alarmed that human rights defender Leyla Yunus remains in pre-trial detention in Azerbaijan, without access to necessary medical care, despite her deteriorating health, the U.S. Department of State Spokesperson Jen Psaki's statement said.

"We are also especially concerned about continued threats to Leyla Yunus’ physical security. On humanitarian grounds, we urge the Government of Azerbaijan to immediately grant Leyla Yunus access to independent medical evaluation and care, security, and improved conditions.

We also urge the Government of Azerbaijan to respect the rule of law and to release those incarcerated for exercising fundamental freedoms, starting with those with serious medical conditions. This would include Leyla and her husband Arif, whose deteriorating health make their release particularly urgent.

It is in Azerbaijan’s interest to ensure that its citizens are afforded the dignity, human rights, and fundamental freedoms to which all citizens are entitled under Azerbaijan’s international obligations," the statement stressed.