Another matter of concern is the restricted right of citizens to peacefully change their government. The report notes that if the November 6 legislative elections showed some improvements, they still did not meet a number of international standards.
The State Department, however, welcomes President Ilham Aliyev's decision to pardon most remaining political prisoners identified as such by the Council of Europe and vacate the sentences of seven opposition leaders who had been convicted in the aftermath of the flawed 2003 presidential polls.
For an overview of the State Department report, click here.