OSCE official visits jailed bloggers, calls for fair appeals trial
A senior official from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions
and Human Rights (ODIHR), who has met the two jailed Azerbaijani
bloggers on Wednesday, underlined the importance of fair trial
standards being upheld during the upcoming appeals process.
"We are concerned about reports of procedural irregularities during the trial of Emin Abdullayev and Adnan Hajizade, and encourage the authorities to fully apply the fair trial standards Azerbaijan has committed to uphold as a participating State of the OSCE during the appeals process," said Assia Ivantcheva, acting head of ODIHR's human rights 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, on charges of hooliganism. They claim their arrest had been "ordered." The defense plans to appeal the verdict.
Both men are former employees of ODIHR election observation missions.
Ivantcheva noted that Abdullayev and Hajizade had no complaints about the conditions in the newly-built detention centre where they are held. Azerbaijani authorities facilitated the OSCE delegation's visit.
"While we have no intention to interfere with the ongoing judicial proceedings, we see the forthcoming appeals hearing as an opportunity for Azerbaijan's authorities to implement their international rule of law obligations, including the full respect for the principle of equality of arms between prosecution and defense," she added.*
"We are concerned about reports of procedural irregularities during the trial of Emin Abdullayev and Adnan Hajizade, and encourage the authorities to fully apply the fair trial standards Azerbaijan has committed to uphold as a participating State of the OSCE during the appeals process," said Assia Ivantcheva, acting head of ODIHR's human rights 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, on charges of hooliganism. They claim their arrest had been "ordered." The defense plans to appeal the verdict.
Both men are former employees of ODIHR election observation missions.
Ivantcheva noted that Abdullayev and Hajizade had no complaints about the conditions in the newly-built detention centre where they are held. Azerbaijani authorities facilitated the OSCE delegation's visit.
"While we have no intention to interfere with the ongoing judicial proceedings, we see the forthcoming appeals hearing as an opportunity for Azerbaijan's authorities to implement their international rule of law obligations, including the full respect for the principle of equality of arms between prosecution and defense," she added.*
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