Azerbaijan rejects 'disgusting' US human rights criticism before COP29

FILE PHOTO: Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev speaks at the European House - Ambrosetti Forum in Cernobbio, Italy, September 6, 2024. REUTERS/Claudia Greco/File Photo

BAKU (Reuters) - Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Friday rejected what he called a "disgusting" letter from U.S. lawmakers who criticised his country's human rights record and urged it to free political prisoners before it hosts next month's COP29 climate conference.

The letter, signed by nearly 60 lawmakers, urged Secretary of State Antony Blinken to "press for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, hostages, and POWs, including ethnic Armenians, to enable a more conducive environment for successful diplomacy at COP29".