Azernews.Az

The Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry on Thursday summoned representatives of the Norwegian and German embassies for discussions focusing on the two governments’ response to the recent conviction of two controversial bloggers to jail sentences.
Deputy Foreign Minister Vagif Sadigov, who hosted Lars Hansen and Peter Ziegler, said Baku was utterly disappointed with the views expressed by the two diplomatic missions in their statements issued last week. He said the trial of the bloggers complied with Azerbaijan’s laws and due process, was transparent, and conducive conditions had been provided for media coverage of the proceedings.
Baku said the allegations are absolutely unfounded and unacceptable, inconsistent with the level of Azerbaijan’s relations with the two countries and capable of affecting their development, and represent an attempt to interfere with the country’s internal affairs.
Both diplomats said they would convey Azerbaijan’s stance on the issue to their governments.
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.*