The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe party within the European Parliament has called on the EU to take action against the jailing of critical voices in Azerbaijan.

The political group strongly condemned the sentences passed against critical voices of the Azerbaijan's Government and asks the European Union to respond to the systematic crackdown on human rights in this country.

Following the sentencing of investigative journalist, Khadija Ismaylova, to seven and a half years in prison by a Baku court, ALDE Group leader, Guy Verhofstadt said - "This is not the first time authorities in Azerbaijan have jailed journalists for holding the government accountable and for shedding light on corruption; this has to stop. The EU must push Azerbaijan to respect its international human rights obligations, to release political prisoners and guarantee freedom of the press."

The group said that Khadija Ismayilova, a contributor to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, was convicted on charges of criminal libel, tax evasion and abuse of power, after reporting on corruption linked to Azeri President, Ilham Aliyev and members of his family. Another prominent human rights activist in Azerbaijan, Leyla Yunus, has been sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison for fraud and tax evasion. Her husband, Arif Yunus, received seven years on similar charges.