Washington urges Azerbaijan to release Afgan Mukhtarli from prison. The State Department responded to an Azeri journalist"s imprisonment with an official statement.

Washington calls the allegations made against Afgan Mukhtarli politically motivated and expresses concern over a journalist"s six-year prison term.

"According to reports, Mr. Mukhtar was kidnapped in Georgia on May 30 and subsequently arrested in Azerbaijan for smuggling and related allegations that are considered politically motivated, so we call on the Azerbaijani government to release Mr. Mukhtarli and all the people who were detained for realization of their rights "-says the State Department"s statement.

The publication also notes that Washington is closely monitoring the investigation into the kidnapping case in Georgia and calls on the Georgian side to make the process fully transparent and operative.