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Today Baku’s Sabail region court has sentenced the bloggers Emin Milli to 2.5 years and Adnan Hajizada to 2 years of imprisonment on charge of hooliganism and causing damage to health.

Today’s session has started with the speech of Public Prosecutor Jeyhun Kazimov, who asked court to sentence Milli to 3.6 years and Hajizada to 3 years in jail.

The lawyers of the accused demanded their acquittal. Adnan Hajizada’s lawyer Isahan Ashurov said “Prosecutor has no idea what ”proof” it is and the accusation was based on the traditions of Soviet totalitarianism. Since the very beginning investigation was conducted with violation of the law. The principle of presumption of innocence has been violated and instead of investigation police has instituted criminal case right away.”

Millis’ lawyer Elton Guliyev said the bloggers’ case is politically motivated to intimidate young people. “The so-called victims had to be on the place of the accused.”

In his last plea Hajizada said that the International Youth Day was celebrated on November 10. “We, investigator and Prosecutor and the so-called victims are people of one generation. And we altogether must resolve all the problems, first of all the Karabakh conflict,” Hajizada said.

“You do not have to be a professional in field law to make fair decision. You should feel sorry for them, but not us,” he said and pointed at the victim Vusal Mammadov.

Milli said “it is honor for me to be penalized for my ideals.” People applauded and human rights defender Leyla Yunus shouted “Shame on Judge Araz Huseynov!

The lawyers said that sentence is unfair and illegal and they will appeal against it.

Leyla Yunus said the sentence is “a political order.”

Erkin Gadirli, chairman of the Committee for Bloggers Rights, said the sentence is a disgrace. “We will take the matter to the European court,” he said.

Terry Davidson, chief of U.S. embassy Public Relations Department, expressed regret over the court decision. He said in the coming days the U.S. Department of States will express its attitude towards the sentence passed on the bloggers.

26-year-old Adnan Hajizada, leader of the youth movement Ol (Be), and 30-year-old Emin Milli, chief of Alumni Network, founder of ANTV, were detained after the fight in Lebanese restaurant on July 8, 2009. Local and international human rights defenders claim that the young people have been arrested for a political dissent and, particularly, video about donkey, which was regarded as parody of president.

Many international organizations, parliaments and governments of western countries have repeatedly urged the Azerbaijani authorities to free the bloggers.

The bloggers’ imprisonment is the Azerbaijani authorities challenge to the world community.

Experts

One of the victims Babak Huseynov did not appear at the trial, but he submitted a written statement saying that he has no claims to the accused. Another victim Vusal Mammadov said he “is not going to reconcile with the accused and they should be penalized by the state.”

Milli’s relatives protested at the court’s failure to video speech of Public Prosecutor.

Milli and Hajizada were arrested on July 8 after the incident in Lebanon restaurant in Baku. Although they have been beaten up, criminal case has been instituted against them.

Local and international human rights defenders claim that the young people have been arrested on political reasons.

The judge has announced a break.-0-

ANPCEI: VERDICT AGAINST BLOGGERS IS A SHAME FOR AZERBAIJAN

http://www.top7.az/default.asp?vr=en

11.11.2009...18:42:48...Wednesday

BAKU/11.11.09/TURAN: Azerbaijan’s National Public Committee for European Integration (ANPCEI) is indignant with conviction of young bloggers Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade.

"Immediately after the arrest and during the investigation the ANPCEI appealed repeatedly to Azerbaijan’s authorities with request to stop this falsified "case." Trial showed that the beating, arrest and trial over young bloggers were connected with their public activity. Young activists are punished in this way for their will to live in open and fair society in which human rights of every person are respected," reads the statement received from ANPCEI.

The court's verdict is contrary not only to Azerbaijan’s legislation, but also to democratic principles, and it violates the norms of humanism and human values. In connection with above mentioned the ANPCEI again called Azerbaijan’s leadership to stop the absurdity defaming Azerbaijani state. "We demand immediate release of Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli, and stop of investigation against them," the statement of ANPCEI read.

Today Sabail Court passed a verdict against Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli, and sentenced them to 2 years and 2, 5 years of imprisonment.

ANPCEI unites a large group of prominent representatives of Azerbaijan’s democratic publicity. A chairman-in- office of the ANPCEI is the head of Public Union “For the Sake of Azerbaijan” Eldar Namazov. -06D--

DEVAMM CATEGORICALLY CONDEMNS VERDICT PASSED AGAINST BLOGGERS

http://www.top7.az/default.asp?vr=en

11.11.2009...18:30:07...Wednesday

BAKU/11.10.09/TURAN: DEVAMM condemned the verdict passed against bloggers Adnan Milli and Emin Hajizade, reads the statement sent to Turan by the head of DEVAMM structure Haji Ilgar Ibrahimoglu. The statement reads that the verdict will cause a serious damage to Azerbaijan’s international image, to belief in court’s justice, and independence of this structure. There were not arguments or facts proving the bloggers’ guilt; they have turned from sufferers into the accused.

DEVAMM considers that the sentence against the bloggers is unfair and is biased. It is noted with great regret that courts in Azerbaijan play the role of instrument for punishment dissidents. "We want to believe that higher instances will not be unfair. We are solider with the young bloggers." -16Б04-

AZERBAIJANI AUTHORITIES SENTENCED BLOGGERS IGNORING INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC OPINION

http://www.top7.az/default.asp?vr=en

11.11.2009...14:43:47...Wednesday

BAKU/11.11.09/TURAN: Today Baku’s Sabail region court has sentenced the bloggers Emin Milli to 2.5 years and Adnan Hajizada to 2 years of imprisonment on charge of hooliganism and causing damage to health.

Today’s session has started with the speech of Public Prosecutor Jeyhun Kazimov, who asked court to sentence Milli to 3.6 years and Hajizada to 3 years in jail.

The lawyers of the accused demanded their acquittal. Adnan Hajizada’s lawyer Isahan Ashurov said “Prosecutor has no idea what ”proof” it is and the accusation was based on the traditions of Soviet totalitarianism. Since the very beginning investigation was conducted with violation of the law. The principle of presumption of innocence has been violated and instead of investigation police has instituted criminal case right away.”

Millis’ lawyer Elton Guliyev said the bloggers’ case is politically motivated to intimidate young people. “The so-called victims had to be on the place of the accused.”

In his last plea Hajizada said that the International Youth Day was celebrated on November 10. “We, investigator and Prosecutor and the so-called victims are people of one generation. And we altogether must resolve all the problems, first of all the Karabakh conflict,” Hajizada said.

“You do not have to be a professional in field law to make fair decision. You should feel sorry for them, but not us,” he said and pointed at the victim Vusal Mammadov.

Milli said “it is honor for me to be penalized for my ideals.” People applauded and human rights defender Leyla Yunus shouted “Shame on Judge Araz Huseynov!

The lawyers said that sentence is unfair and illegal and they will appeal against it.

Leyla Yunus said the sentence is “a political order.”

Erkin Gadirli, chairman of the Committee for Bloggers Rights, said the sentence is a disgrace. “We will take the matter to the European court,” he said.

Terry Davidson, chief of U.S. embassy Public Relations Department, expressed regret over the court decision. He said in the coming days the U.S. Department of States will express its attitude towards the sentence passed on the bloggers.

26-year-old Adnan Hajizada, leader of the youth movement Ol (Be), and 30-year-old Emin Milli, chief of Alumni Network, founder of ANTV, were detained after the fight in Lebanese restaurant on July 8, 2009. Local and international human rights defenders claim that the young people have been arrested for a political dissent and, particularly, video about donkey, which was regarded as parody of president.

Many international organizations, parliaments and governments of western countries have repeatedly urged the Azerbaijani authorities to free the bloggers.

The bloggers’ imprisonment is the Azerbaijani authorities challenge to the world community.-0-