US "disturbed" by imprisonment of journalist in Azerbaijan

"We are deeply disturbed by the conviction and imprisonment of Ilgar Nasibov, a correspondent for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Nakhchivan," said a statement from State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos.

"This action against a representative of a professional and objective media organization is yet another indication of the deterioration of media freedom in Azerbaijan," he said.

"We call upon the Government of Azerbaijan to take immediate measures to review this and other cases in which journalists have been imprisoned for their reporting and to fully comply with its stated commitments to respect freedom of speech and rule of law."

Ilgar Nasibov, 42, was jailed on Thursday after turning up at court expecting to be released after being cleared of slander charges brought by local police two days earlier.

Earlier Friday Azerbaijani police detained Nasibov's wife when she went to a detention centre to locate him, the Prague-based Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty said.

Malahat Nasibova was detained and taken to the interior ministry for questioning when she tried to find her husband, and was later released.

/AFP/