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US Amb. dismisses allegations
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
posted Aug 15 2005
Baku, August 12, AssA-Irada -- US ambassador in Baku Reno Harnish has
dismissed allegations suggesting that the United States provided
assistance to youth movement leader Ruslan Bashirli recently
arrested over plotting with Armenian secret service to stage a coup
in Azerbaijan.
"The presumptions that the USA or US National Democratic Institute
(NDI) are behind Bashirli's actions are absolutely groundless."
Harnish said that the US government believes Bashirli's activity
should be scrutinized in court in accordance with the law. The issue
should not be a subject of 'black PR', he said.
The ambassador noted that if there are substantial grounds for accusing
Bashirli, the police should look into the matter.
Harnish continued that a major 'campaign' has been carried out over
the past week against political parties, especially one of them.
"If one of the legally operating parties has been subject to
persecution, physical pressures and attacks in the media, the OSCE
is not likely to call the parliament election [due in November]
unbiased."*
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
posted Aug 15 2005
Baku, August 12, AssA-Irada -- US ambassador in Baku Reno Harnish has
dismissed allegations suggesting that the United States provided
assistance to youth movement leader Ruslan Bashirli recently
arrested over plotting with Armenian secret service to stage a coup
in Azerbaijan.
"The presumptions that the USA or US National Democratic Institute
(NDI) are behind Bashirli's actions are absolutely groundless."
Harnish said that the US government believes Bashirli's activity
should be scrutinized in court in accordance with the law. The issue
should not be a subject of 'black PR', he said.
The ambassador noted that if there are substantial grounds for accusing
Bashirli, the police should look into the matter.
Harnish continued that a major 'campaign' has been carried out over
the past week against political parties, especially one of them.
"If one of the legally operating parties has been subject to
persecution, physical pressures and attacks in the media, the OSCE
is not likely to call the parliament election [due in November]
unbiased."*