BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 4. The Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan has responded to the question regarding the press release from the United States concerning a recent telephone conversation between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and President Ilham Aliyev. The press release mentioned that human rights were among the topics discussed during the call.
"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," the statement reads.