From the BBC:

The US has criticised Azerbaijan over the imprisonment of a newspaper editor, urging the Caucasus republic to respect the right to free speech.

Eynulla Fatullayev was given a sentence of eight-and-a-half years on Tuesday, on charges of making a terrorist threat and inciting inter-ethnic conflict.

The US Department of State said it appeared to be "an attempt to silence criticism and stifle free speech".

His two newspapers have been shut down. He has been in detention since April.