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Washington calls on Azerbaijan to hold free, fair and transparent elections, expressing concern about harassment cases of critics criticizing government in the tightly controlled former Soviet state, said Deputy Press Secretary of the U.S. Department of State Mary Harf on Monday, the Agence France-Presse reports.

"The United States calls for peaceful participation of all people in the electoral process in Azerbaijan. U.S. urges also to restrain from violence and provocation before, during and after the elections," the representative of the State Department noted.

Washington also called on the Azerbaijani authorities to "ensure the protection of fundamental freedoms of the citizens, such as freedom of speech and assembly."

According to Marie Harf, the human rights activists have stated about the persecution of opponents of the government on the eve of the election. "The U.S. is concerned about the attack on a group of reporters last week," deputy press secretary stated.

The presidential elections in Azerbaijan are scheduled on 9 October 2013. The previous presidential elections were held on 15 October 2008. The incumbent president Ilham Aliyev is on this position for two terms already - since 2003. In March 2009 a referendum on making amendments to the Constitution was held in Azerbaijan, which repealed the restriction on one person remaining in office for more than two consecutive terms. The Venice Commission of the Council of Europe stated in this regard, "Giving one person the right to be repeatedly elected to the presidency is seen as a step backwards in the development of democracy."