AZERBAIJAN

[Update to Rapid Action 11/20/09]

International PEN strongly protests the recent decision of the Baku Court of Appeal to uphold the two-year and two-and-a-half-year prison sentences handed down to Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade respectively. PEN considers the continued imprisonment of both Internet writers to be in breach of international standards of freedom of expression and calls for their immediate and unconditional release in accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Azerbaijan is a state party.

>> Read PEN's letter of appeal

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On November 11, 2009, Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade were handed a two-year and a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence respectively on charges of “hooliganism” and “inflicting minor bodily harm.” This verdict was upheld by the appeals court on March 10, 2010. Although charged with involvement in an alleged fight outside a bar, it is widely believed that these are fabricated charges, and that the reason for their convictions are their postings on the Internet regarding government corruption, education and freedom of expression. One of their most popular pieces is a video that has been widely distributed on the Internet that satirizes the Azerbaijani government’s decision to pay very high prices to import donkeys, leading them to become known as the “Donkey Bloggers.” The Internet writers’ lawyers have announced they will be filing a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights.

Both Internet writers were arrested in July 2009, and despite being the victims of an assault, were accused of “hooliganism,” despite being victims of an assault.

Emin Milli is the co-founder of the online Alumni Network organization and the editor of the Internet television site ANOT. Adnan Hajizade is the co-founder of the youth movement OL (To Be).

PLEASE SEND APPEALS...

• Calling for their immediate and unconditional release of Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade, in accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Azerbaijan is a state party;

• Calling on the Azerbaijani authorities to take urgent measures to ensure the safety of journalists and freedom of expression.

SEND APPEALS TO...
President
Ilham Aliyev
Office of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic
19 Istiqlaliyyat Street
Baku AZ1066
Azerbaijan
Fax: + 994 12 492 0625

Minister of Internal Affairs
Lt.-Gen. Ramil Usubov
Ministry of Internal Affairs
Husu Hajiyev Street 7, 370005 Baku
Azerbaijan
Fax:  + 994 12 492 45 90

Please copy appeals to the diplomatic representative for Azerbaijan in your country if possible.

Please check with PEN if sending appeals after April 30, 2010: ftw@pen.org

RELATED LINKS

>> Rapid Action 11/20/09