(Azeri) HƏBS OLUNMUŞ BLOQÇULARLA BAĞLI PREZİDENTƏ MƏKTUB GÖNDƏRİLİB

A letter signed by 216 people in connection with the unfounded arrest of “Alumni Network” Youth Organization Coordinator, ANTV Online TV Leader Emin Milli and one of “OL” Youth Organization Coordinators, well-known videoblogger Adnan Hajizade and their release has been sent to President Ilham Aliyev. The Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety was told this by AN network member Vafa Jafarova.

“We don’t want Adnan and Emin to be pardoned, but want to prove that they are innocent,” said Jafarova. “The president vowed before the constitution to protect the rights of all citizens. Therefore in the letter we reminded him of his commitments and called on him to fulfill this mission.”

On 8 July, at approximately 8:00 p.m., Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade were sitting at a table in “Lebonese” (Livan) restaurant along with several other young adults, when two people that looked like sportsmen came up to them, and attacked them causing physical injuries. Although they appealed to police as victims, police detained Adnan and Emin as suspected persons for 48 hours and freed the attackers. On 10 July, Sabail District Court Judge Rauf Ahmadov issued a decision under article 221.2.1 (hooliganism) of the Criminal Code to sentence Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade to two months pre-trial detention. On July 20 the Appellate Court upheld the decision of the lower court. Both Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade are being held in the Investigative Prison of Baku.