The United States has condemned the beating of an Azerbaijani journalist and rights activist in the country's Naxcivan exclave.
Ilgar Nasibov was attacked by unknown assailants late on August 21 while he was in the office of the Naxcivan Resource Center, the only independent rights organization operating in the province.
Nasibov, who is currently hospitalized in grave condition, was found unconscious, suffered severe head trauma, a broken nose, fractured ribs, and serious blood loss.
In a statement on August 27, the U.S. State Department urged that those responsible be brought to justice, and called on the Azerbaijani government to “take immediate steps” to protect the freedoms of expression, assembly, and association.
International rights groups have been complaining about a crackdown by Azerbaijani authorities on rights activists.
