13 April 2022, 19:11
US Department of State points to human rights violations in Azerbaijan
In its annual report, the US Department of State noted serious human rights problems remained in Azerbaijan.
On April 12, the US Department of State released the 2021 State of the World Report. The section on Azerbaijan reflects various facts of human rights violations and restrictions on freedom of speech and the media, including violence against journalists, deprivation of their liberty, criminalization of defamation, and more.
Authors of the report also drew attention to the adoption of a new law on the media, which limited the opportunities for free journalistic activities.
The report also points to “serious restrictions on the freedom of the Internet,” including the blocking of websites. Other violations include severe restrictions on participation in political life, restrictions on freedom of assembly, brutality of the police against persons based on sexual orientation, and the existence of facts of the use of child labour.
The authors of the report note that the problem of political prisoners in Azerbaijan also remains acute. “According to Azerbaijani NGOs, there are 122 political prisoners in the country,” the report states.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 13, 2022 at 02:40 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Faik Medjid Source: CK correspondent
