Amnesty International condemns jailing of Azerbaijan activist

Amnesty International has condemned the jailing in Azerbaijan of an opposition social media activist on what it called bogus drug possession charges.

The rights group said in a statement that the oil-rich ex-Soviet nation is seeking to stamp out critical voices in an attempt to prevent protests like those that have swept the Arab world.

The last few weeks have seen a handful of demonstrations in Azerbaijan being broken up by police.

Popular Front Party activist Jabbar Savalanli, 20, was sentenced earlier this week to two-and-a-half years in prison on charges of possessing opium, which he denied.

Amnesty said Savalanli had posted online critical comments about the authoritarian country's leadership and called for resignations.

Authorities are said frequently to jail government opponents on drug charges.