Azerbaijani Youth Club: The Story of Two Young Bloggers in Azerbaijan:  Emin and Adnan

The Story of Two Young Bloggers in Azerbaijan:  Emin and Adnan
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admin on 11/09/2009 13:46:00
 
Summary
On 8th July, 2009, two Azerbaijani video-bloggers and youth activists - Emin
Milli (Abdullayev) and Adnan Hajizada were assaulted and beaten while dining
with a group of fellow youth activists in a Lebanese restaurant in downtown
Baku.
After the assault, Emin and Adnan went to a police station to file their
complaint and seek justice. However, in a surprise turn, the police declared
Emin and Adnan 'hooligans' and detained them for 48 hours while two assailants,
the real hooligans were immediately released from the back door of the police
station.
A kangaroo court held in Sabayil District, on 10th July, sentenced both Emin
Milli and Adnan Hajizada to two months of pre-trial detention, while a
prosecutor's office is due to hold an investigation into their 'hooliganism act
conducted in group'.
This essay and compilation of media reports try to describe Emin and Adnan's
case from the very beginning with some comprehensive details.
II
Background
Who is Emin Milli. Emin Milli (Abdullayev) was born on 14th October, 1979 in
Baku. After graduating from the Faculty of International Relations and
International Law of Baku State University, he earned his Master's degree at
Saarland University. Emin Milli has worked before as a coordinator of
International Republican Institute (IRI) in Azerbaijan (1999-2000), as a
director of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) in Azerbaijan (2002-2004). He
also was a consultant and legal expert for the Council of Europe (CoE) in
matters concerning political prisoners in Azerbaijan in more than 40 cases (2002
-2004). In 2005 Milli has been political analyst assistant in OSCE/ODIHR
Election Observation Mission in Azerbaijan.
Emin Milli is a blogger and citizen journalist, as well as one of the founders
of the Alumni Network (AN), a flexible grassroots youth movement. An incredible
pre-Facebook era social network and strong mobilization force for country’s
youth, AN was both a framework into which almost whole youth activities could be
fit, and a ‘primary chaos’, particles of which then evolved into various
youth organizations and movements of Azerbaijan.
Emin was one of the authors and organizers of the campaign - "Future Is What You
Do Now" which contributed to the establishing and designing of the State Program
to send Azerbaijani students to study at best universities abroad.
After the decisions of the Azeri government to force international broadcasters
- RFE/RL, BBC and VOA from local FM bands, thus effectively shutting down last
independent media outlets in Azerbaijan, as well as the scheduled referendum to
be held on March 18, 2009 to remove a two-term limit imposed on holders of the
Presidency in Azerbaijan in order to allow incumbent President to continue to
stand for next elections, made Emin Milli to initiate international and domestic
campaign to advocate and pressure on the government of Azerbaijan to reconsider
its positions. He organized and held various forums and protest actions both in
Azerbaijan and abroad.
Four days before his arrest, on 4th July, Emin Milli was a speaker in a Heinrich
Böll Foundation roundtable in Baku dedicated to a democratization process in
South Caucasus, where he strongly criticized the Azerbaijani government for its
policies.
Who is Adnan Hajizada. Adnan Hajizadeh was born on 13th July, 1983 in Baku. He
went to Baku European Lyceum and is a Future Leader Exchange Program (FLEX)
alumnus. Adnan enrolled at Qafqaz University in Baku in 2000 and transferred to
University of Richmond a year later, where he obtained a Bachelor's degree in
Political Science in 2005. Upon his return to Baku, Adnan has continued his
education at Khazar University to obtain a Bachelor's degree in law. In October
2007, Adnan was drafted to standing army for a year to complete his military
duties.
Adnan is one of the founders of OL! Azerbaijani Youth Movement, a non-violent
movement aimed at education and development of Azerbaijani youth. Adnan also
works at BP Azerbaijan, Communications and External Affairs Department. He is
Internal Communications Officer.
Besides being a prominent member of civil society and youth sector, Adnan is
also a pioneering video-blogger in Azerbaijan. Known for their sophisticated
techniques, his videos uploaded to Youtube website were popular among
Azerbaijan's growing Internet community. Some of these videos have an
educational character, while others carry subtle political messages.
A few days before his arrest, Adnan Hajizada together with ANTV, brainchild of
Emin Milli has shot a satirical video about a government policy of importing
expensive donkeys from abroad on exaggerated prices (for two donkeys from
Germany, the government has paid $82,000). As the New York Times describes,
'dressed in a voluminous gray [donkey] costume, Adnan Hajizada rhapsodize[d]
over the lush life awaiting donkeys in Azerbaijan' while making subtle hints at
the plight of human rights and liberties in the country. 'To his audience —
cosmopolitan young Azeris following his commentaries on blogs and Facebook —
the video was a sly send-up of the government, which had been accused in the
local news media of paying exorbitant prices to import donkeys.'
III
Incident at "Lebanese" restaurant
Assault in the restaurant. On 8 July, 2008, Emin Milli, Adnan Hajizada and five
other youth activists were dining in "Lebanese" restaurant in downtown Baku.
According to witnesses, Adnan Hajizada was late to dinner and arrived with some
delay. Immediately after Adnan, two young men resembling sportsmen, entered the
restaurant. They sat at a table in a corner, ordered two Red Bulls and started
to listen to what Emin, Adnan and their friends talk about. Thus, it can be
considered evident that those guys were following Adnan.
The company of youth activists were discussing the current situation in
Azerbaijan, ordinary problems the society faces and activities of their own. In
one moment Emin stated "I don't agree with this government" and one of the
"sportsmen" interfered and sweared at him. Emin told his friends: "It is a
provocation, don't pay attention." However, at this point, the other sportsmen
stood and approached Emin as if asking: "He is talking to you, don't you hear?"
and immediately butted him at his head. When Adnan and others tried to
intervene, the first "sportsmen" assaulted Adnan kicking him on his face and
breaking his nose. Only with the help of restaurant workers Emin and Adnan could
be speared from the assailants. Then the company left for the nearest police
station to file their complaint.
At the police station. At first, Emin and Adnan applied to the 39th Division of
Sabayel District Police Department, but their request was refused to be
processed on the ground that the incident happened in a territory out of the
jurisdiction of the 39th Division. However, they redirected Emin and Adnan to
the 9th Division of the same police department. The perpetrators also got
detained by police.
After being checked for any alcohol consumption, Emin, Adnan and third activist
Orkhan Gafarli were locked up in the police department, while the police were
trying to disperse their friends and relatives gathered outside the building.
Moreover, the police denied Emin and Adnan both medical and judicial assistance.
Although ambulance was summoned, the doctor did practically nothing and their
lawyer, Isakhan Ashurov was refused to enter the department and meet his
clients.
Also in a surprise turn, the police released the perpetrators through the back
door and instead, tried to detain Adnan Hajizada for 48 hours as a primary
suspect in a 'hooliganism case. Emin declaring that Adnan was innocent, refused
to leave without him. Therefore, investigator Ziya Aliyev filed a protocol for
Emin's detention as well. However, these protocols were not presented to the
detainees, which is another violation of Azeri laws.
After several hours of interrogation in absence of lawyers, Emin and Adnan were
taken handcuffed to the Temporary Detention Center of 37th Division of Khatai
District Police Department. They were detained for 48 hours as suspects in a
'hooliganism' case and third activist Orkhan Gafarli was released. The police
refused to give any comments that night.
IV
Second day: domestic reactions
Statement of Interior Ministry Spokesman. On the second day of the incident, the
Spokesman of the Interior Ministry Spokesman Sadig Gozalov has told Radio
Azadliq - RFE/RL Azeri Service that the police had opened a case about
'hooliganism act conducted by a group' according to Article 221.2 of the
Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan. For on 8 July, Emin, Adnan and
their friends behaved inappropriately in the restaurant and therefore two
bystanders named Vusal Mammadov and Babek Huseynov intervened to call them to
order. According to Gozalov's own words, if he was there, he would also
intervene and do the same.
However, instead of calming down, Emin and Adnan assaulted Mammadov and Huseynov
and have severely beaten them. Gozalov also noted that both victims - Mammadov
and Huseynov are IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) from Karabakh, and one of
them is in hospital.
Leyla Yunus's appeal to the Interior Minister. The Head of the Institute of
Peace and Democracy, and a prominent human rights activist Leyla Yunus prepared
and sent an appeal letter to the Minister of Interior Affairs demanding 'to obey
the law and guarantee security of citizens'. The letter detailed all violations
of law during the detention of Emin and Adnan and asked for their immediate
release.
Protest Forum. In the afternoon, human rights activists, leaders and members of
Azeri civil society, youth movements and oppositonal parties, as well as
diplomatic corps, held a protest forum and press conference to discuss the case
and decide on further actions.
After listening to the witnesses, it was noted by some participants that the
case is very similar to the one which was initiated against one Azeri journalist
and editor-in-chief. Also, it was revealed that depite several injuries, and a
broken nose, neither Adnan, nor Emin has any medical assistance yet.
The Ambassador of Germany told the forum that Günter Nooke, German Federal
Commissioner for Human Rights and Foreign Aid (Ombudsman) is due to visit the
country next day and Emin was supposed to be his interpreter during official
visits in the Presidential Administration, Ministries of Justice and Interior
Affairs and other governmental establishments. Therefore, Mister Nooke and
German Embassy is paying special attention to the case.
Findings of the Azeri Ombudsman Office. The Office of Azeri Ombudsman revealed
its findings on 9th July as well. The Ombudsman Office has stated that they had
visited both detainees and found significant violations in their cases. Namely,
they had not received any medical assistance, and the protocols about their
detention contained false information about the detainees, as if they have
criminal past. Besides, these protocols were not presented to the detainees,
which is itself a violation of laws.
Official statement of Interior Ministry and Prosecutor's Office. The
Prosecutor’s Office and Baku City Main Police Department has issued statement
about the arrest of two youth activists – Adnan Hajizada and Emin Milli.
The statement published on the official website of the Ministry of Internal
Affairs says that on June 9, 2009, at about 18.00, Adnan Hajizade, who was
drunk, Emin Abdullayev and 5 more people with them, were swearing and talking
loudly at the Lebanese restaurant-bar, when Vusal Mammadov and Babek Huseynov
approached them trying to stop them swearing but instead, were attacked by them
without any reason.
Before the police reached the place of incident, 4 people who were with Adnan
Hajizada could run away but 3 of them were arrested and taken to 9th Division of
Sabayel District Police Department.
Initial medical test revealed that Adnan Hajizade was drunk in a medium level,
Orkhan Gafarov in a light level, but Emin Abdullayev, Vusal Mammadov and Babek
Huseynov haven’t taken any alcohol. Babek Huseynov who was injured during the
incident, has been given the first medical care but Vusal Mammadov is still in
the hospital because of his head-brain injury.
On this fact, the crime investigation as per the point no 221.2.1 of the Crime
Code of Azerbaijan Republic has been launched by the Investigation department of
Sebail region Police station and initially the lawyer Vagif Mammadov took the
responsibility to defend the arrested 2 guys. Later on, the lawyers Isakhan
Ashurov and Elton Quliyev – requested with the official warrant, joined the
defence of the above mentioned persons.
During the investigation, Vusal Mammadov and Babek Huseynov gave a testimony as
victims of the incident. Orkhan Gafarov who was sitting next to Adnan Hajizade
and Emin Abdullayev during the incident, has been questioned as a witness and
the rest of the guys who ran away - Parviz, Ulvi, Nureddin and Bahram are being
searched.
The objective process of the investigation, considering the queries received by
the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Azerbaijan Republic and the main
Prosecutor’s Office, is under control.
V
The trial, appeal and subsequent court hearings
At the police and court. In Azeri law if a suspect is detained for 48 hours,
then either he must be released at the end of this period or brought before the
court. Thus, according to these procedures, Emin and Adnan would be released or
have a trial in the end of 10th July.
On 10th July in the morning, German Federal Commissioner for Human Rights and
Foreign Aid (German Ombudsman) Gunter Nooke arrived at the Sabayel District
Police Department. He was told by the investigators that Emin and Adnan would be
tried around afternoon, and the court would be open to everyone. However, as
soon as Gunter Nooke left the police station, it revealed that investigators had
cheated him. No trial was scheduled for afternoon, and the court case would be
heard behind closed doors.
Besides, actually it was already evening when Emin and Adnan were taken to the
court from some third door incognito (as supporters and journalists gathered
outside the police were monitoring both the front and back doors). However, to
the surprise of those gathered in front of the Sabayel District Court, nobody
could witness how Emin and Adnan were brought inside. Around 150-200 supporters,
human rights activists, observers and journalists were waiting outside, while
inside the building the court was preparing for  bloggers' trial. Around this
time, German Ombudsman Gunter Nooke arrived and tried to meet court officials.
However, the front door of the court house was effectively locked and nobody was
answering the door knocks; lights in most windows were put out. Representatives
of European Union, foreign embassies and organisations, as well as Gunter Nooke
himself were left behind closed doors. Only lawyers were admitted inside.
After a call to Azerbaijani Ombudsman Elmira Suleymanova and her mediation,
Gulzar Rzayeva, the Head of the Sabayel District Court agreed to meet Gunter
Nooke (accompanied by interpreter) in person, but still refused to allow anyone
to the trial presided by Judge Rauf Ahmedov. In her meeting with Nooke, Justice
Rzayeva once again confirmed that  trial will be heard behind closed doors and
even Nooke would not be admitted to the process.
After the meeting, the court started to consider Emin's and Adnan's cases
separately, and within a short period of time, both bloggers received sentences
of pretrial detention for two months. The trial went with significant violations
of law, as no witnesses or victims were brought before the judge.
During these two months while they are in detention, the investigation would be
held and their case brought before the court. If the investigation is not
concluded, their detention period can be extended for additional two months.
During their detention period, they won’t be able to receive any guests,
instead of their lawyers. They will be held in new Detention Center in a town of
Kurdokhani, a small town in an hour’s drive from Baku.
Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizada are charged of ‘group hooliganism’ according
to the Article 221.2 of Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan. However, in
judiciary practice, such defendants usually get released with a house arrest or
on bail. Two months of pre-trial detention is the maximum period that a
law-breaker can receive, and this type of detention is conditioned with criminal
past of detainees, their liaisons outside of the prison, as well as degree of
their dangerousness, possibility of their escape, degree of graveness of the
crime, etc.
Appeal and subsequent court hearings: Just before the appeal, Babek Huseynov and
Vusal Mammadov - alleged 'victims' in Adnan Hajizadeh and Emin Milli's case
addressed the media. They accused some media outlets of distorting the case and
attempting to slander them: "They try to brand us as perpetrators. We protest
this. We also feel as if influenced by these tales, police plots against us."
They claimed that loud and nasty language used by Adnan, Emin and their
companions spoiled their mood and their attempt to call the group to order
resulted in severe beating. They say they still undergo medical treatment at the
hospital.
On 20 July, Baku Court of Appeals proceeded with examining apeals by Adnan
Hajizada and Emin Milli.  Judge Mirpasha Huseynov chaired Adnan Hajizadeh's case
proceedings, while Emin Milli's case hearings were chaired by judge Jalal
Ramazanov. After the judges decided to hold hearings behind closed doors, the
lawyers of Emin and Adnan pleaded for substitution of judges. However, their
pleas were declined.
After that, the court also declined both Emin Milli's and Adnan Hajizada's
appeals.
On 11 August, subsequent trial held by Sabayel District Court of Baku rejected
another complaint by detained bloggers Emin Mili and Adnan Hadji Zada, this time
accusing the Interior Ministry, the Chief Prosecutor’s office and the Baku
Police of failing to respect the principle that a person is presumed innocent
until proved guilty.
VI
International Reactions
Protests of Azerbaijanis in Paris and London. On 22nd July, a group of
Azerbaijanis living in Paris protested in front of Azerbaijani Embassy in Paris
against the pressures on the freedom of speech and arrest of Emin and Adnan.
About 20 participants gathered in front of the embassy, voicing slogans and
protesting. Famil Alyev, Azerbaijan's Council General in Paris has met with
members of the protests and listened to their demands. The statement of the
protesters was presented to the embassy. In the statement, the protesters
demanded the release of arrested journalists and bloggers, the fulfillment of
obligations that Azerbaijan has undertaken to the European Council and also
stopping measures against people with alternative political ideas.
On 31st July, another protest against the arrest of youth activists Adnan
Hajizada and Emin Abdullayev was held in London in front of Azerbaijani embassy.
The organizers of the protest noted that the purpose of the protest is to
express their concern with Adnan and Emin's arrest and show their support to the
youth of Azerbaijan. About 20 Azerbaijani and foreign students took part at the
protest.
Statements from Emin’s and Adnan’s universities. The Europa-Institut of
Saarland University in Germany has sent a letter to the Ambassador of the
Republic of Azerbaijan in Berlin. In the letter sent by the Director of the
Institute, the Ambassador is asked to do his utmost to bring about the release
of Emin and Adnan. The letter points out that Azerbaijan is a member of the
Council of Europe and a party to the European Convention of Human Rights.
However, the latest series of events surrounding the arrests of Adnan Hajizade
and Emin Milli, who is known at the Institute for his peaceful engagement for
democracy and human rights, would leave the Institute's alumni network and
current programme participants in doubt as to Azerbaijan's commitment to uphold
the pertaining obligations.
Seventeen University of Richmond professors and administrators have also written
a letter to the president of Azerbaijan seeking his intervention in the case of
a UR graduate Adnan Hajizada. Among those signing the letter was Vincent
Wei-cheng Wang, chairman of the Department of Political Science, from which
Adnan got his degree.
The letter to Azeri President Ilham Aliyev notes that Hajizada attended UR on
"full scholarship - a testament of our belief in his promise and his country's
future.” Letters of appeal were also sent to Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., and Rep.
Eric I. Cantor, R-7th.
The letters say the professors remember Hajizada, an Azeri native, "as an
outstandingly polite and respectful gentleman; it is hard to imagine he would
engage in acts of 'hooliganism.'"
EU reaction. On 20th July, visiting European Union officials have also protested
the arrest of two bloggers The Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, who was
leading the EU delegation to the South Caucasus, told reporters on leaving Baku
that he had informed President Ilham Aliyev about their concern over Emin and
Adnan’s case. He also told that the ambassadors of 27 EU member states had
also submitted a statement to authorities "expressing their concern about the
condition of human rights and freedoms in Azerbaijan."
EU special representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby in his interview
to Radio Azadliq stated that they are monitoring the situation around the arrest
of bloggers very closely. He also emphasized that human rights issues were a
part of bilateral agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan and that also
constituted a commitment within the framework of the Council of Europe and the
OSCE agreements.
EU also released a statement of concern, joined by The candidate countries
Croatia and FYR of Macedonia, potential candidate countries Albania, Bosnia and
Herzegovina and Montenegro, as well as the European Free Trade Association
countries and members of the European Economic Area Iceland and Norway.
Reaction of British MPs. Thirteen members of the House of Commons signed an
appeal to Azeri government expressing deep concern over the rapidly
deteriorating human rights situation in Azerbaijan. The appeal was adopted after
the meeting of the members of the House of Commons with Azerbaijani youth living
in Great Britain. On July 14, the document was submitted officially to the House
of Commons, and as 15th July, the petition was signed by 13 British
parliamentarians. In accordance with the procedure, the appeal was sent to the
Foreign Ministry of Great Britain and then would be passed to official Baku.
Reaction of German Ombudsman. The Federal Government Commissioner for Human
Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid of Germany Gunter Nooke called the arrest of
Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizadeh a political provocation. “It is an attempt of
forcing out activists of human rights defender organizations from the political
landscape of the country,” Nooke said in his interview to Deutsche Welle.
Nooke considers that the coincidence of the arrest of the activists with his
visit was just an accident. However he did not rule out that “by this
Azerbaijan’s authorities tried to check the reaction of the West to such
events”. He believes that the energy interests must not cause the EU to turn a
blind eye on the situation with human rights in Azerbaijan. “It is necessary
to talk openly with the authorities of countries with dictatorship. I do not
think that it will cause damage to our economic relations. We are mutually
dependent: Azerbaijan wants to get money from us, and we want energy resources
from Azerbaijan,” Nooke said.
Asked if it was right to sign transactions like Nabucco with such non-democratic
countries as Azerbaijan, he said: “Private companies of the EU are ready to
invest money in the project, realizing the existence of dictatorship and
authoritarian regime in the country. Nobody can prohibit business figures to do
it. The problem is that in large projects like Nabucco European companies want
to get state guarantees from possible risks. It will not be easy to do it,
because Azerbaijan is not a lawful country and tyranny exists there,” Nooke
said.
He believes that Azerbaijan “develops more towards dictatorship, than towards
democracy”. “The authorities use their power to serve that purpose. They
suppress the opposition and prevent their access to mass media. Election
campaigns in Azerbaijan are not fair. The court power is independent only on
paper. Judges get orders how to act from the top. The recent arrest of two human
right defenders confirms it,” the ombudsman said (Turan).
Position of the U.N. Human Rights Committee. U.N. Human Rights Committee has
criticized the current state of freedom of speech in Azerbaijan that has led to
the closure of independent newspapers and the arrest of bloggers. U.N. panel
voiced its concern at the recent arrest of opposition bloggers Adnan Hajizada
and Emin Milli. The Geneva-based panel published a report urging the government
to lift undue restrictions on the media and protect journalists and bloggers
from attacks.
Reaction of PACE Rapporteur. Christoph Strässer (Germany, SOC), PACE rapporteur
on the follow-up to the issue of political prisoners in Azerbaijan, was
disturbed by the arrest in controversial circumstances of Emin Milli and Adnan
Hajizade. "These arrests will draw the international community's attention to
the cases of journalists and NGO activists convicted on the basis of dubious
allegations of vandalism and slander", said Mr Strässer. "I shall, when
preparing my report, pay great attention to the arrest and conviction of
opposition activists and representatives of civil society."
OSCE reaction. Two officials of OSCE have sent a letter to the Minister of
Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan regarding the youth activists Emin Milli and Adnan
Hajizada, and expressed their concern. The Secretary General of the OSCE Marc
Perrin de Brichambaut has told this to the journalists while his visit to
Azerbaijan. He has referred to these letters while meeting with Azerbaijani
officials and emphasized a fact that supremacy of law must be respected in all
OCSE member countries and the obligations must be fulfilled.
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklós Haraszti, who also
authored one of those letter, has told in his interview to Austrian newspaper
Der Standard:    Mr Milli and Mr Hajizadeh are two very young journalists. They
belong to Azerbaijan blogger scene. What happened to them has have been
confirmed by several witnesses: They were attacked, they reported the attack,
but they will now be punished instead of the attacker. They are arrested and are
now in custody because of hooliganism.
The problem here is that this is not only unacceptable in itself, but that it is
a recurring pattern which seems to be a practice of law enforcement in
Azerbaijan. It is eerily similar to what happened to one of the most famous
journalists in the country, Ganimat Zakhidow. He is still in prison and is
serving a four-year prison sentence. Zakhidow was also accused of hooliganism,
he had reported, after he himself had been attacked. And there is another
similar case in Azerbaijan: Makhal Ismailoglu, a columnist for the opposition
newspaper Yeni Musavat, was sentenced in the first instance to a two-year prison
sentence on probation. He was found guilty of violence towards the cleaning lady
of his neighbors, a senior official of the Minister of Interior.
We see here a model in which critical journalists are convicted for crimes which
have no connection with their profession and which seem to be fabricated.
CRITICAL NOTE BY EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT SUBCOMMITTEE. SUBCOMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS
AT THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT HAS ADDRESSED A
CRITICAL NOTE TO THE AMBASSADOR OF AZERBAIJAN TO BELGIUM, LUXEMBOURG AND THE EU
ABOUT THE CASE OF EMIN MILLI AND ADNAN HAJIZADA. IN ITS NOTE, THE COMMITTEE
EXPRESSED ITS DEEP CONCERN ABOUT THE SECOND COURT RULING OF 20TH JULY 2009,
UPHOLDING THE FIRST COURT DECISION IMPOSING TWO MONTHS PRE-TRIAL DETENTION OF
THE TWO BLOGGERS EMIN MILLI AND ADNAN HAJIZADE UPON THEIR ARREST ON 8TH JULY
2009.
REFERRING TO AZERBAIJAN’S COMMITMENT TO SEVERAL INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS,
INCLUDING THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS, THE CHAIRPERSON RAISES
PARTICULAR CONCERNS ABOUT THE DETAINEES’ BASIC RIGHTS TO A FAIR AND PUBLIC
HEARING, GIVEN THAT THE DEFENDANTS HAD LATE ACCESS TO LAWYERS AND THE HEARINGS
WERE CLOSED. FURTHERMORE THE LETTER POINTS OUT THE COMMITTEE’S CONCERN
ABOUT THE DETENTION’S EXTENSIVE DURATION OF TWO MONTHS AND THE LACK OF
IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO PROPER MEDICAL TREATMENT AFTER THE ARREST.
THE COMMITTEE CALLED THIS INCIDENT A NEGATIVE SIGN IN RELATION TO
AZERBAIJAN’S COMMITMENTS LAID DOWN IN THE EU-AZERBAIJAN ACTION PLAN,
CALLING UPON THE AZERBAIJANI GOVERNMENT TO CLARIFY ITS POSITION ON THIS ISSUE.
Reaction from the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly. The Helsinki Citizens’
Assembly has released a statement about Emin and Adnan, where in particular,
they say:
The internet is an instrument for the free expression of political opinions from
all sides and needs to be vigorously protected and kept as open as possible. The
Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly being committed to promote the values of human
rights, democracy, and civil society condemns the unlawful detention and urges
the government of Azerbaijan to:
*Annul the pre-trial detention for investigation; 	*Show immediate proper
medical aid to Adnan Hajizadeh; 	*Maintain fairness of the investigation
process; 	*Stop prosecuting young activists.
Amnesty International statement. On 17 July, Amnesty International issued a
statement condemning the detention of Emin and Adnan. The statement expressed
that if Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade were being detained solely for the
peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression, their arrest and
detention would violate Azerbaijan’s obligations to respect their right to
freedom of expression, thus in such a situation, Amnesty International would
regard them as prisoners of conscience, who should be released immediately and
unconditionally.
Other reactions. US Senator Kent Conrad, chairman of Senate Budget Committee,
also voiced his support for Emin and Adnan. Case of Emin and Adnan was also
mentioned at the hearings of Helsinki Commission of American Congress by the
representative of German Marshall Fund David Kramer in his 16th July speech on
Iranian crisis and the situation in OSCE countries.
Former country director of American Councils for International Education, Dr.
Jeremy Tasch wrote to the Minister of Justice Fikrat Mammadov a letter
“offered respectfully in support of Adnan Hajizade.” Another such letter
addressed to the Minister of Justice was sent by the Reporters Without Borders.
ARTICLE 19, GENEVA-BASED HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT OF
AZERBAIJAN TO IMMEDIATELY DROP THE POLITICALLY-MOTIVATED CHARGES OF HOOLIGANISM
AGAINST EMIN MILLI AND ADNAN HAJIZADA, IMMEDIATELY RELEASE THEM, THOROUGHLY
INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSAULTING BLOGGERS, AS WELL AS
RESPECT ITS COMMITMENTS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW.
US-educated Azerbaijani Alumni Association and a group of Central European
University alumni issued statements concerning the arrest of bloggers, while
friends of Emin and Adnan sent an appeal letter to the President of Azerbaijan
with more than 200 signatories. A group of Azeri students who studied abroad
sent their separate letter as well.
Ali S. Novruzov