US State Department’s statement – interference in Azerbaijan’s internal affairs

Baku, April 17, AZERTAC The statement made by the US State Department on Rasul Jafarov is beyond the limits of the law, press service of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said. The Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hikmet Hajiyev stated that this statement is the interference in Azerbaijan’s internal affairs and it causes nothing but surprise. “The rule of law, the protection of freedom and independence of the judicial system is fully ensured in Azerbaijan,” Hajiyev stressed. “No one is persecuted for the political activities and views in Azerbaijan and the country fully complies with its international obligations, the spokesperson said. He said Rasul Jafarov was brought to trial for tax evasion, misappropriation and other illegal activities proven by the court. “Everybody is equal before the law and activities on protection of human rights do not exempt anybody from liability, Hajiyev added. He reminded that Armenia has occupied Azerbaijani lands and ignores the international law, the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act. “The US, which urges for fulfilling the international obligations, first of all should demand from Armenia to fulfill its international obligations and withdraw its troops from Azerbaijan’s occupied territories.” The US, which under the pretext of the human rights protection, shows such interest in individual criminal activities, would better pay due attention to the restoration of rights of over a million of Azerbaijani refugees and IDPs who have been deprived of their fundamental rights and freedoms as a result of Armenian aggression and occupation”, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.