Support Adnan and Emin

30.07.2009...19:49:28...Thursday BAKU/30.07.09/TURAN:

On July 30 the lawyers Isakhan Ashurov and Elton Guliyev appealed to Sabail District Court against Baku Chief Police Department and Baku Prosecutor Office as well as against the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Azerbaijan’s General Prosecutor Office.

According to Isakhan Ashurov, they claimed against the statements made by these bodies on July 11 and 14 of this year.

“In the statements the presumption of innocence of our clients, Adnan Hajizadeh and Emin Milli, was violated, and we ask the court to admit the violation,” Ashurov said.

“The statements alleged the guilt of Hajizadeh and Milli, but only the court can find them guilty, and the trial has not been held yet,” Ashurov said and added that it was a violation of Article 6.2 of the European Human Rights Convention.

Ashurov said that on July 30 he visited Hajizadeh and Milli in jail. “They did not complain of the conditions they were kept in, but noted they had not been permitted to meet with their parents and relatives. Such a restriction is illegal,” the lawyer noted.

The statements of the above-mentioned bodies noted that Hajizadeh and Milli made hooliganism on July 8 in the Lebanese cafe, and beat two visitors; therefore their detention was legal. -02B-

On July 23, 2009, the Sabail Court rejected the complaint of Adnan Hadji-Zadeh and Emin Milli regarding the conditions of their police custody on July 8. The same Court, confirmed by the Baku Court of Appeal, had previously stated their detention on remand.

Let it be reminded that on July 8, Adnan Hadji-Zadeh and Emin Milli were victims of an aggression in "Livan" restaurant in Baku. When they wanted to complain to the police, they were kept in police custody for the whole night and prevented from meeting their lawyers or parents. Despite their injuries, they could receive no medical care (excepted for cotton to wipe Adnan's broken nose). Furthermore they were immediatly put in detention and charged with hooliganism relying on no serious ground.

This situation was denounced by all international organisations and NGOs, as well as human rights defenders in Azernaijan.

Notwithstanding the support of civil society, Azerbaijani government has persisted in presenting Adnan Hadji-Zadeh and Emin Milli as trouble-makers, turning the victims into aggressors and aggressors into victims and calling on the international community not to interfere.

As a result, the two videobloggers will remain in unlawful pre-trial detention for two months.


Support to Adnan Hadji-Zadeh and Emin Milli definitely must go on and be enhanced.

Actually, due to a regrettable misunderstanding of information, some people think the procedure will be over within two months (i.e. now one month and 13 days) and consequently consider any further action as hopeless.

In fact, the situation is much more serious and far from for being over.

We are in front of a complicated judicial battle.

Legally, they will have to face and confront at least 3 proceedings.

1. The proceeding about pre-trial detention :
Adnan and Emin have already been detained in pre-trial detention on the pretext that "they could try to run away" during the investigation period.
This Sabail Court's decision, confirmed by the Baku Court of appeal, is clearly groundless and violated national and European provisions.
As a result, the lawyers of the two youngsters declared their intention of filing a complaint before the European Court on Human Rights (ECHR).
It must be stressed that the pretrial detention can be extended until the judgement stating they are innocent or guilty.

2. Regarding the police custody :
The police custody of Adnan and Emin was arbitrary and also violated the defence right, as they were not allowed to see their lawyers and family, and were not provided medical care.
However, the Sabail Court rejected their complaint, that's why this proceeding will probably also be submitted to the ECHR.

3. Regarding the charges of hooliganism :
At the present time, "investigation" (!) is still conducted.
I would like to draw everybody's attention on this issue.
This proceeding is the most serious and important one.
Adnan and Emin, charged for "hooliganism", are facing a 2-5 years imprisonment sentence.

The danger is really high and the supporting movement must be continued and enhanced during this process even if it could be long and complex.

Keep fighting for Adnan Hadji-Zadeh and Emin Milli, and support the Azerbaijani youth that is struggling for the implementation of democracy in their country.

Just remember: If you keep silent, it does not mean you are inactive. Being silent means showing the Azerbaijani Government that its repressive policy, by violating fundamental rights and being pityless, is the right strategy for eliminating the free-speaking citizens.
If you let down Adnan and Emin, what do you think will be the next step?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvmMq5RY3Dw

On July 22, 2009 - celebration day of medias in Azerbaijan - , a group gathered in front of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Paris

They protested against censorship and repression policy of the Azerbaijani authorities. They called on the Government to release three journalists (Eynulla Fatullayev, Qanimat Zahid, Mushfiq Huseynov) and two bloggers (Emin Milli, Adnan Hacizade), currently imprisonned in Azerbaijan.

They were joined by members of the "House of journalists in Paris" and supported by Reporters without Borders (RSF). Agil Khalil, a refugee Azerbaijani journalist in France, was also present.

Elnur Majidli could speak, on behalf of the group, with a representative of the Embassy. A letter and a list of petioners were remitted in the Embassy's mailbox.

For pictures and video of this event, see :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtYoKgWdL2U
http://azadliq.az/?p=17733
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=93604&id=618662879

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Déclaration publique

Index AI : EUR 55/006/2009
ÉFAI
17 juillet 2009

Azerbaïdjan. Deux jeunes militants ont été arrêtés

Amnesty International est vivement préoccupée par les derniers événements s’inscrivant dans le cadre de la répression qui se poursuit en Azerbaïdjan contre les militants de la société civile et les médias. Emin Milli (de son vrai nom Emin Abdoullaïev) et Adnan Hacizade ont été interpellés le 8 juillet 2009 sous l’inculpation de « houliganisme » et placés en détention provisoire pour deux mois le 10 juillet. Amnesty International pense qu’ils ont sans doute été arrêtés pour avoir exercé sans violence leur droit à la liberté d’expression.

Emin Milli et Adnan Hacizade sont deux jeunes militants bien connus qui utilisent des outils de mise en réseau du Web, dont Youtube, Facebook et Twitter, afin de faire circuler des informations sur la situation sociopolitique en Azerbaïdjan. Emin Milli est également cofondateur d’un groupe de jeunes, Alumni Network, tandis qu’Adnan Hacizade est coordinateur d’un autre mouvement appelé OL !

Selon certaines informations parvenues à Amnesty International, le 8 juillet 2009, Emin Milli et Adnan Hacizade dînaient avec des militants de la société civile dans un restaurant de la capitale Bakou. Alors qu’ils débattaient du cybermilitantisme, deux hommes costauds se seraient approchés de leur groupe, auraient exigé qu’ils cessent de parler de politique et auraient agressé Emin Milli et Adnan Hacizade. Les deux jeunes gens auraient alors été blessés, Adnan Hacizade aurait eu le nez cassé et Emin Milli aurait été blessé à la jambe.

Tous deux se sont ensuite rendus au poste de police pour porter plainte. Toutefois, au lieu d’enregistrer leur plainte concernant cette agression, les policiers ont arrêté Adnan Hacizade, puis Emin Milli, ce dernier ayant semble-t-il refusé de quitter les lieux sans son compagnon. Ils auraient été inculpés de « houliganisme commis par un groupe de personnes », infraction passible d’une peine d’emprisonnement pouvant aller jusqu’à cinq ans.

Amnesty International est préoccupée par certaines informations selon lesquelles les policiers n’ont pas mené d’enquête approfondie ni impartiale sur ces faits. Entre autres, ils n’ont pas interrogé les éventuels témoins. Malgré cela, les agresseurs présumés auraient été remis en liberté.

Par ailleurs, les autorités n’ont semble-t-il pas respecté les droits des deux militants détenus garantis en vertu de la loi azerbaïdjanaise et des instruments internationaux relatifs aux droits humains. Plus particulièrement, selon des informations parvenues à Amnesty International, Emin Abdoullaïev et Adnan Hacizade n’ont pas été autorisés à consulter leurs avocats avant le 9 juillet après-midi. Pourtant, dans l’intervalle, Adnan Hacizade aurait été interrogé par les autorités.

D’après les organisations azerbaïdjanaises de défense des droits humains, il est à craindre que les charges retenues aient été forgées de toutes pièces en vue de sanctionner les deux jeunes hommes parce qu’ils critiquent le gouvernement dans le cadre de leur activités militantes en ligne. Ce n’est pas la première fois que les autorités de ce pays portent des accusations pénales pour réduire au silence des voix dissidentes. Le prisonnier d’opinion Qanimat Zahid, rédacteur en chef du journal d’opposition Azadliq, a par exemple été condamné à une peine de quatre ans d’emprisonnement après avoir été accusé de houliganisme et d’agression en mars 2008. Plusieurs journalistes ont également été incarcérés sur la base d'accusations contestables au cours des dernières années. Amnesty International a récemment fait part de ses préoccupations concernant l’espace de plus en plus restreint accordé à la liberté d’expression en Azerbaïdjan dans un rapport intitulé Azerbaijan: Independent journalists under siege (index AI : EUR 55/004/2009).

Selon l’organisation, si Emin Milli et Adnan Hacizade sont maintenus en détention uniquement pour avoir exercé sans violence leur droit à la liberté d’expression, leur arrestation et leur détention violent les obligations qui incombent à l’Azerbaïdjan de respecter ce droit. Si tel est le cas, Amnesty International les considère comme des prisonniers d'opinion, qui doivent être libérés immédiatement et sans condition.

Document public
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Secrétariat international, Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., Londres WC1X 0DW, Royaume-Uni, www.amnesty.org.

Que font les medias français?

Hier, le 16 juillet 2009, Reporters sans Frontières a écrit une lettre ouverte au ministre de la justice azerbaïdjanais au sujet du cas de Adnan Hadji Zadeh et Emin Milli, deux video bloggers battus, arrêtés et détenus arbitrairement en Azerbaïdjan. Les deux jeunes hommes, chacun à la tête d'associations étudiantes, ont pour seul défaut de s'exprimer publiquement sur internet et de diffuser des informations dans un pays où règne la censure.
La communauté internationale s'est saisie de l'affaire. L'OSCE, RSF, des députés européens, les ambassades d'Allemagne, des Etats Unis et du Royaume Uni ont publiquement condamné cette situation.
Des articles sont publiés tous les jours dans les médias anglais, allemands, turcs, américains etc. Et en France? En France, RSF est présent, RSF se bouge mais quid des medias nationaux? Le premier appel de RSF a été repris en dépêche AFP et cité (discrètement) dans les grands journaux français. Toutefois, la lettre ouverte écrite par RSF au ministre de la justice azerbaïdjanais ne figure, sauf erreur de ma part, dans aucun des grands journaux français. Je n'ai pas non plus vu la moindre dépêche AFP à ce sujet. Je suis peut-être mal informée... Je l'espère sincèrement car il serait très choquant que les médias français restent silencieux à ce sujet.
Adnan Hadji Zadeh et Emin Milli ont été placés en détention provisoire pour deux mois et encourent 2 à 5 ans de prison ferme pour hooliganisme. L'audience en appel a lieu lundi 20 juillet. Il serait temps d'en parler...

Solidarität mit Emin Milli und Adnan Hajizadeh
----------------------------------------------

Zu den Verhaftungen der Bürgerrechtler Emin Milli und Adnan Hajizadeh in
Aserbaidschan erklärt Cem Özdemir, Bundesvorsitzender von BÜNDNIS 90/DIE
GRÜNEN:

„Es brennt wieder einmal im Kaukasus. Am 8. Juli sind zwei der führenden
Vertreter der Aserbaidschanischen Zivilgesellschaft aus fingierten
Gründen verhaftet worden. Die beiden jungen Bürgerrechtler Emin Milli
und Adnan Hajizadeh arbeiten seit Jahren mit deutschen politischen
Stiftungen zusammen. Sie sind weltoffen, patriotisch und moderat.

Am 8. Juli haben sich Emin Milli und Adnan Hajizadeh in einem Lokal in
Baku getroffen, um aktuelle politische Fragen zu erörtern. Dort wurden
sie von Schlägern angegriffen, verletzt und anschließend von der Polizei
verhaftet. Die beiden sitzen seither in Untersuchungshaft, ihnen drohen
mehrjährige Haftstrafen – die Angreifer befinden sich dagegen auf freiem
Fuß. Wie zu sowjetischen Zeiten üblich lautet die Anklage gegen Milli
und Hajizadeh ‚Rowdytum‘.

Die Verhaftung der beiden ist ein weiteres Alarmsignal für den rasanten
Demokratieabbau in Aserbaidschan unter Präsident Heydar Aliev. Am 18.
März diesen Jahres wurde per Referendum die unbegrenzte Wiederwahl
Alievs besiegelt. Unlängst wurden die Visabestimmungen verschärft und
die Freiheiten für NGOs beschränkt.

Emin Milli und Adnan Hajizadeh brauchen internationale Unterstützung.
Die Bundesregierung und die EU müssen ihren Einfluss auf die Regierung
in Baku geltend machen, um den beiden Bürgerrechtlern zu helfen. Mit der
gestrigen Unterzeichnung des Pipeline-Projektes ‚Nabucco‘ hat die
Aserbaidschanische Regierung ihren Beitrag zur europäischen
Energiesicherheit erklärt. Aserbaidschan ist Teil der europäischen
Staatengemeinschaft, Mitglied im Europarat und Teil der Östlichen
Partnerschaft der Europäischen Union. Daraus erwächst dem Land eine
Verpflichtung zur Einhaltung demokratischer Standards, der europäischen
Rechtsnorm und damit zur Freilassung von Emin Milli und Adnan Hajizadeh.“

Cem Özdemir, European MP and president of the German green party, published a press release about Adnan Hadji Zadeh and Emin Milli


Emin Milli və Adnan Hacizadə ile həmrəylik
………………………………………………

Vətəndaş hüquqları fəalları Emin Milli və Adnan Hacizadənin həbsi ilə bağlı BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN (Yaşıllar) partiyasının sədri Cem Özdemirin bəyənatı:

Qafqaz yenə alov içindədir. İyulun 8-də Azərbaycan vətəndaş cəmiyyətinin iki qabaqcıl nümayəndələri yalandan quraşdırılmış səbələrə görə həbs edilmişdir. Hər iki gənc vətəndaş hüquqları fəalı illərlə alman siyasi fondları ilə birgə əməkdaşlıqdadırlar. Onlar dünya görüşlü, patriot və liberaldırlar.

İyulun 8-i, siyasi məsələlərin müzakirəsi üçün, Emin Milli və Adnan Hacizadə Bakıdakı restoranların birində görüşmüşdürlər. Orada gənclərə hücum edildi, onlar döyülüb həsarət aldılar, sonra isə polis tərəfindən saxlandılar. Hər ikisi istintaq bitənə qədər həbsdədirlər və bir-neçə ilə qədər azadlıqdan məhrum oluna bilərlər – onlara hücum edənlər isə əksinə buraxıldılar. Sovet vaxtlarında kimi, Milli və Hacizadə „xuliqanlıq“-da ittihamlanırlar.

Fəalların həbsi Azərbaycanda İlham Əliyevın rəhbərliyi altında demokratiyanın sürətli tenezzülünün növbəti işarəsidir. 2009-cu il 18 mart tarixində keçirilən referendum, Əliyevın istənilən qədər prezident seçilmək üçün məhdudiyyəti aradan qaldırdı. Bu yaxınlarda, Azərbaycana daxil olmaq üçün viza almaq şərtləri sətləşdirilmiş və GHT-ların hüquqları məhdudlaşdırılmışdır.

Emin Milli və Adnan Hacizadənin beynəlxalq dəstəyə ehtiyacları var. Fəallara kömək etmək üçün, Alman höküməti və Avropa Birliyi, Azərbaycan hökümətinə təsirindən istifadə etməlidirlər. Dünən, „Nabukko“ qaz kəmər proyekti haqda sazişə imza atmaqla, Azərbaycan höküməti Avropa enerji təhlükəsizliyinə öz töhvəsini verməyə razılığını bildirdi. Azərbaycan Avropa dövləti olaraq, Avropa Şurasının və Avropa Birliyinin Şərq Əməkdaşlığı proqramının üzvüdür. Nəticə olaraq Azərbaycan höküməti demokratik standartlar və Avropa hüquq normalarına rəftar etmək və bununla Emin Milli və Adnan Hacizadəni azadliqa buraxmaq borcundadır.

TURANSAM condemned Adnan and Emin's arbitrary arrest and detention

Azerbaycan İktidarına Kınama Mesajı
Tarih: 10.07.2009 > Yollayan: Yönetim
TURAN-SAM olarak demokratik bir çağda yaşamakta olan günümüz dünyasında tüm dünyaya geride kalmışlık imajı veren Azerbaycana ve Azerbaycan hükümetini şiddetle kınıyoruz. Öğrenci aydınlar harketatının başkanı Emin MİLLİ ve Adnan HACIZADEnin tutuklanmasını şiddetle kınıyoruz. İnsan hakları açısından şiddete maruz kalan kişileri tutuklamanın ne kadar cahilane bir tutum olduğunu er geç Azerbaycan resmilerinin de anlaması dileğiyle.

Kaynak: TURAN-SAM

Please find below a brief bio of Adnan and Emin, that will provide an overview of the reasons of their arbitrary arrest and detention.

Adnan Hajizada, (July 13, 1983) is youth activist and blogger. He got bachelor degree in Law from Khazar University and BA in Political Science from University of Richmond.

He works in BP as Internal Communications Officer ( January 2006 – present). In 2005, before he served in military Hajizada was assistant to OSCE-ODIHR, Election Long-Term Observer (2005). During his University education he had summer internship in Voice of America (June-September 2005).

Hajizada also was Project assistant at EU TACIS program (June 2004), Research Assistant at Chesterfield Public Schools, Research Assistant, Richmond, VA, (December 2003). In 2001-2002 Hajizada was Alumi coordinator at
American Councils for International Education. Within this capacity he tutored English in the regions and organized orphanage visits, planned tests for 2000 applicants.

Hajizada is co-founder of Ol Public Movement, non-political, non-profit organization. He was actively involved in creating Olmedia – the multimedia tool where Ol members could distribute and publish multimedia reports and messages. Ol is promoting non-violence, democracy, tolerance, education for everyone. Ol is not linked to any political organization and is advocating youth involvement in social change.



Emin Milli biography

Emin Milli (Abdullayev), 30 (was born on October 14, 1979) is a New Media activist and one of the leaders of non-political, non profit youth organization AN (Alumni Network).
Graduate of Baku State University International law school, Emin Milli got his masters degree at the University of Saarbruecken European Law School.

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). As a consultant and legal expert he was advising 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 the co-founder of AN Network established in 2005. He is 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 5 000 Azerbaijani students to the best Universities abroad. The latest decisions of the government to de-facto shut down foreign broadcasters (radios -"Liberty", "BBC" and "VOA") in combination with the scheduled referendum to be held on March 18, 2009 to establish unlimited Presidency in Azerbaijan made Emin Milli to initiate international campaign to increase international pressure on the government of Azerbaijan to reconsider its position on both issues.

You will find here a video on youtube

Adnan explains what is ol! movement, and that Azerbaijani need TO BE, to be tolerant, to be democrate, to be educated etc
Just watch!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR6ijL86VY8&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ewikio%2Efr%2Fvideo%2F1386472&feature=player_embedded