O’Brien calls on Baku to honor international human rights obligations

US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O’Brien has called on the Azerbaijani authorities to honor their international human rights obligations.

During his visit to Baku, he met with civil society activists. “Met with human rights and civil society activists in Baku and reiterated our call for the government of Azerbaijan to honor its international human rights obligations,” O’Brien wrote on social media X.

He also held a meeting with jailed opposition politician and academic economist Gubad Ibadoglu.

“I was honored to meet with Dr Gubad Ibadoglu to discuss the importance of a vibrant civil society. We continue to call for his full and speedy release,” O’Brien noted in the same social media post.

In a briefing on 28 June, O’Brien also commented on the pressure on independent media in Azerbaijan.

“The US believes that freedom of expression and independent journalism are essential parts of civil society. We, around the world, support independent journalism and continue to do so,” O’Brien said.

He said his meetings in Baku emphasized that “independent journalism is an essential part of developing and maturing society”.