Azernews.Az

BAKU – Three former executives of Azerbaijan’s opposition Musavat party held meetings at the US embassy on Monday. All of them held separate discussions with the diplomatic mission’s political advisers Brigette Buchet and Jane Smith.

Former Musavat Supreme Assembly chairman Sulhaddin Akbar, who met with the diplomats along with Adil Geybulla and Gabil Huseynli, has told Radio Liberty that the initiative to hold the meeting had been made by the US embassy.

"The meeting discussed the situation in Azerbaijan following the parliamentary elections [held last November], relations within the opposition, the situation that has emerged at Musavat, the reasons for my secession from the party and my future plans."

According to Akbar, such a meeting taking place indicates the United States’ increasing attention to the political developments ongoing in Azerbaijan. He noted that the presence of two political affairs advisers at the US embassy is remarkable as well.

"There was just one political adviser until now. It seems to me that they have now begun to follow the events in Azerbaijan more profoundly and in more detail. Apparently, with the appointment of a new ambassador [Matthew Bryza], the embassy is studying the political situation in the country. And, naturally, the attention paid to the Musavat party and its development prospects is in evidence."

Bryza has been appointed as US ambassador to Azerbaijan under President Barack Obama’s decision. The appointment, which had been stalled by lawmakers for months, was welcomed by Baku.

The US embassy has confirmed its representatives’ meeting with the former Musavat executives, saying this was one of the regular meetings it holds with various people.