Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8
Trend - S. Akhmadova
The U.S. Department of State has expressed attitude towards the issue of the deportation of Azerbaijani journalist Mahir Zeynalov from Turkey, the information published on the Department of State`s site on Feb. 8 said.
According to the Department of State's chair, Jen Psaki, the information is being investigated, which has caused concern.
The USA has always supported and supports freedom of expression in the world, she said.
"We consider that independent media are very important for healthy and powerful democracy," Psaki emphasized.
Earlier, Turkish online newspaper İnternethaber reported that the Azerbaijani journalist was deported from Turkey for constant accusations against the government and in particular Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The newspaper published several articles by Zeynalov on relations between the Turkish government and Al-Qaeda terrorist organisation. Zeynalov is banned to enter the country upon the Turkish Interior Ministry's decision.
News about an Azerbaijani journalist's deportation from Turkey is regrettable, OSCE Special Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatovic wrote on Twitter.
Mijatovic referred to this as being another wrong action in Turkey's attitude towards press freedom.
Translated by R.A.