[JURIST] UN High Commissioner for Human Rights [official website] Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein on Tuesday condemned [press release] the recent “crackdown” on dissent in Azerbaijan, denouncing the imprisonment of journalist and human rights activist Khadija Ismayilova [backgrounder]. In particular, Zeid criticized the continued suppression of independent voices throughout the country. Zeid called for “the release of all those who have been deprived of their liberty simply for exercising their rights to freedom of expression.” Ismayilova [BBC report] was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison on September 1 on charges of tax evasion, embezzlement, and abuse of office, among other charges. Many believe her prosecution was due to her work as a highly touted investigative journalist reporting on human rights violations in Azerbaijan. Zeid also said that her trial did not meet international standards.

The human rights situation in Azerbaijan has drawn heavy criticism from the UN and various rights groups the past few years. Ismayilova went on trial [JURIST report] last month, eight months after her arrest. In March, with the European Games approaching in Baku, Azerbaijan, human rights groups urged the host nation to release political prisoners [JURIST report] held on “trumped up” charges. In February the detention of Azeri human rights activist Leyla Yunus, held without trial since the previous July, was extended an additional five months [JURIST report]. In October the Council of Europe [official website] called on [JURIST report] Azerbaijan to halt the arrest and detention of human rights activists in the country.