RFE/RL President Calls For Release Of Journalist Imprisoned In Azerbaijan

Farid Mehralizada, an economist and journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, marked five months in prison on October 30. He was arrested after making public statements criticizing the policies of the Azerbaijani government. State authorities have charged him with smuggling, tax evasion, and forgery, but observers have called the case politically motivated and without merit. RFE/RL President Stephen Capus has called for Mehralizada's release from imprisonment on "false charges."