Media Helping Media

Azerbaijan bloggers back in court next week

Published on Thursday, 01 October 2009

Written by David Brewer

  

They were arrested following an incident in a city restaurant in July. The two men have been held for more than two months in pre-trial detention. An appeal, heard a month after their arrest, was rejected.

New charge added

Since their imprisonment, another charge of "intentional physical violence" was added by the prosecution.

It's understood this extra charge (revealed by the father of one of the bloggers at a news conference in August) could add five years to their sentences if they are found guilty.

On Tuesday, supporters of the two filed a stream of Twitter messages feeding numerous blogs, which were updating the bloggers situation.

It's expected news of the outcome of today's court case will break first on Twitter.

Media freedom groups have been protesting about the arrests and detention and claim it is part of an effort to limit freedom of expression.

Freedom House said the case reflects "a disturbing pattern" where legal action is taken against those expressing themselves.

Reporters Without Borders says the case violates all the norms of European law to which Azerbaijan is subject.

"Their arrest and probable condemnation is being driven by political motives and a desire to censor."

IFEX, the International Freedom of Expression Exchange, said the charges were political and should be dropped.

"Staging provocations has become a favored method to silence independent voices in Azerbaijan."

Supporters' action

Protests against the arrest of the two have been held in the UK and in the USA.

Members of Parliament in the UK have signed a petition calling on the Azerbaijan government to free the two.

Adnan Hajizadeh is one of the founders of OL! Youth Movement which has a Facebook site. The group also tweets @olmedia and has a YouTube site where it updates videos of the campaign to free the two.

Emin Abdullayev helped set up the Alumni Network (AN). Supporters of the two have set up an online video petition where people can post video messages calling for their release.

  

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