The EU issued a statement on 7 March on the two-year sentence handed down by a court in Baku to Azerbaijani blogger Mehman Huseynov. Huseynov was charged with slander after he reported that he was tortured during a brief incarceration. The EU has called on the Azerbaijani government to respect freedom of expression and the due process of law.
“Mr Huseynov is known in Azerbaijan for his efforts to expose corruption. On the face of it, his sentence appears clearly disproportionate to the alleged crime. Reports of his irregular arrest, alleged ill-treatment, and irregularities in the subsequent court proceeding that ended in his conviction are of equally serious concern and should be immediately investigated,” the statement said.
In the statement, the European Union also reiterated that it expects Azerbaijan to respect its international commitments in terms of fundamental freedoms.
