The European Union called on Azerbaijan to "respect its international commitments" if it wants to deepen its relationship with the bloc after the arrest of human rights defender Leyla Yunus in that country.

"The EU values its relationship with Azerbaijan. This relationship cannot achieve its full potential unless Azerbaijan fully respects its international commitments including those deriving from its membership of the Council of Europe, where Azerbaijan currently chairs the Committee of Ministers," said the spokespeople for the EU's top diplomat, Catherine Ashton, and for the European commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy, Stefan Füle.

Both Ashton and Füle expressed their deep "concern" over the arrest of Yunus, the head of the non-governmental organization Institute for Peace and Democracy in Azerbaijan and a "prominent human rights defender."

Yunus was arrested on charged of "serious crimes" including "high treason" and placed in pre-trial detention on July 30, the EU said.

Yunus's arrest seems to be part of "a wider picture of mounting restrictions targeting civil society in Azerbaijan," the EU said.

"The EU has repeatedly made its serious concerns (about respect for human rights) known to the Azerbaijan government, both in public and in private," including during the recent visit of European Commission President Jose Manuel Durao Barroso to that country on June 14, the spokespeople said in their statement. 

Bakudaily.az