Washington is deeply troubled by the reports about the campaign in Baku against independent media outlet Toplum TV and multiple independent journalists and civil society activists.
The U.S. called on Azerbaijan to end the harassment of those exercising their fundamental freedoms and urged the release of all individuals who are unjustly held in politically motivated cases.
“No one should face incarceration or other retribution for exercising freedom of expression,” Miller said.
The Azerbaijani police raided the Toplum TV office yesterday, conducted a search and arrested journalists Elmir Abbasov and Araz Aliyev. Toplum TV is an online TV channel, known for its independent stance.
The police claim to have received information that Toplum TV is financed by Western organizations.
The government of Azerbaijan keeps pursuing its policy of intimidating and silencing political dissidents and independent journalists.
