Top official says int’l stance on bloggers’ arrest biased
International observers’ response to the recent conviction of two
bloggers to jail sentences on charges of hooliganism is biased,
says Ali Hasanov, head of the Azerbaijan Presidential
Administration socio-political department.
A Baku court on November 11 sentenced Emin Milli, 30, an ANTV Online TV blogger and coordinator in the youth organization Alumni Network, to two and a half years in prison, while video blogger Adnan Hajizade, 26, was sentenced to two years in prison. Local and international rights champions and international organizations have criticized the ruling, claiming the bloggers’ arrest was due to their critical writings on the internet.
Hasanov told reporters that thousands of court rulings on charges of hooliganism are pronounced in Azerbaijan every year. International groups are not reacting to these sentences, but have now criticized the two young bloggers’ sentences.
"Certainly, they can say that these two youngsters are bloggers, have a high intellect and are close to the West. But Azerbaijan’s laws and the Criminal Code do not stipulate that those who are more intellectual and closer to the West or any given country should be handed down lighter sentences and are not to be prosecuted. Our laws are enforced based on common standards. We cannot differentiate between people committing the same actions."
Hasanov said, further, that the Azerbaijani society has reached a level whereby one branch of government cannot interfere with the authority of another branch.
"Azerbaijan is a country entering the European legal realm. Any influence exerted on courts can quickly bring about the passage of some decisions defying the government. Therefore, we respect the rulings issued by Azerbaijani courts. As an executive body, we are not authorized to meddle in the work of courts," the presidential administration official said.
Hasanov added that citizens discontent with a local court ruling are entitled to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights, and Azerbaijan certainly complies with all rulings of this judiciary body.*
A Baku court on November 11 sentenced Emin Milli, 30, an ANTV Online TV blogger and coordinator in the youth organization Alumni Network, to two and a half years in prison, while video blogger Adnan Hajizade, 26, was sentenced to two years in prison. Local and international rights champions and international organizations have criticized the ruling, claiming the bloggers’ arrest was due to their critical writings on the internet.
Hasanov told reporters that thousands of court rulings on charges of hooliganism are pronounced in Azerbaijan every year. International groups are not reacting to these sentences, but have now criticized the two young bloggers’ sentences.
"Certainly, they can say that these two youngsters are bloggers, have a high intellect and are close to the West. But Azerbaijan’s laws and the Criminal Code do not stipulate that those who are more intellectual and closer to the West or any given country should be handed down lighter sentences and are not to be prosecuted. Our laws are enforced based on common standards. We cannot differentiate between people committing the same actions."
Hasanov said, further, that the Azerbaijani society has reached a level whereby one branch of government cannot interfere with the authority of another branch.
"Azerbaijan is a country entering the European legal realm. Any influence exerted on courts can quickly bring about the passage of some decisions defying the government. Therefore, we respect the rulings issued by Azerbaijani courts. As an executive body, we are not authorized to meddle in the work of courts," the presidential administration official said.
Hasanov added that citizens discontent with a local court ruling are entitled to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights, and Azerbaijan certainly complies with all rulings of this judiciary body.*
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