NEW YORK — U.S. President Barack Obama urged Azeri President Ilham Aliyev on Friday to free two Azeri opposition bloggers jailed in 2009 on what rights groups say are fabricated charges.
A White House statement said Obama “expressed his hope that Azerbaijan as a young democracy would implement democratic reforms and increase protections for human rights, including by releasing two jailed bloggers.”
The families of the two bloggers asked Obama in an open letter to raise the case during his talks with Aliyev on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Aliyev did not comment on the statement.
Obama also urged Kyrgyz Roza Otunbayeva on Friday to take more steps to prevent a renewal of violence after ethnic conflict that erupted in June.
(Reuters)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
