US questions jailing of Azerbaijan election monitors

"On May 26, Azerbaijani authorities sentenced Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center Chairman Anar Mammadli to five-and-a-half years in prison on highly questionable charges ranging from tax evasion and illegal entrepreneurship to abuse of office. 

"Authorities also convicted the organization’s executive director and the head of a partner NGO on similar charges. 

"These convictions are a major setback to Azerbaijan’s democratic development. 

"As a key partner of Azerbaijan, we believe that it will best be able to ensure its future stability and prosperity by allowing a more open society."

Bakudaily.az