A U.S. Congressman has said that he was "particularly disturbed" by a December 26 raid on RFE/RL's bureau in Baku and the targeting of international nongovernmental organizations in Azerbaijan.
In a January 6 statement, U.S. Representative Bill Keating (Democrat-Massachusetts), a ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats, said Azerbaijan's actions are "clearly not conducive for stability and should not be taken lightly."
Keating said the December 26 police raid on Radio Azadliq and the arrests of investigative reporter and RFE/RL contributor Khadija Ismayilova, human rights activist Lelya Yunus and her husband, Arif, as well as others raise "serious concerns over the intentions of the Azerbaijani leadership and their desire to partner with the US and the West."
The congressman urged the Obama administration to "prioritize" raising concerns with Azerbaijan.
