The Press Service of the President has responded to the question of AZERTAC.
Question: The press release issued by the United States regarding the telephone conversation between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and President Ilham Aliyev yesterday notes that human rights were one of the issues discussed during the phone call. What can you say about it?
Answer: Indeed, various issues, including this one, were touched upon during the telephone conversation. President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that attempts to interfere in Azerbaijan’s internal affairs under the pretext of human rights issues are completely unacceptable. We do not accept the biased statements of some Western countries based on double standards regarding this issue. In this regard, the head of state reminded Secretary of State Antony Blinken about the arrests of opposition representatives in Armenia, including cases of fatalities during detention and human rights violations, emphasizing the unacceptability of the silence of Western countries regarding such incidents, citing them as clear examples of double standards.
During the telephone conversation, President Aliyev highlighted the case of prominent journalist Julian Assange, who has faced prolonged physical and psychological torture due to his journalistic activities. He noted ongoing discussions about Assange’s extradition to the United States and the possibility of his execution. The head of state highlighted the importance of addressing human rights issues globally, not just locally.