Azerbaijan denounces diplomatic criticism of human rights

FILE - Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, shown here on Nov. 6, 2024, recently denounced a letter from U.S. lawmakers criticizing his country's human rights record and calling for the release of political prisoners

Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry denounced on Wednesday criticism by Western ambassadors of the country's human rights record, saying the diplomats' comments amounted to interference in its judicial system.