The Voice of Mirza Xazar

ARTICLE 19 calls on the Government of Azerbaijan to immediately drop
the politically-motivated charges of hooliganism against two
journalists, Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade, who are currently being
held in pre-trial detention.

Milli, who works for ANTV Online, and Hajizade, a video blogger, were
detained on 8 July 2009, after they reported being assaulted in a Baku
restaurant to police. They were allegedly attacked in a restaurant by
two individuals who demanded that they stop discussing politics; Milli
and Hajizade had been sitting with a group of young people, discussing
the activities of their youth organisations. When Milli and Hajizade
appealed to police at the Sabail District Police Department and
requested medical assistance, they were instead detained under charges
of “hooliganism” (under Article 221.2.1 of the Azerbaijani
Criminal Code). On 10 July, the Sabail District Court ordered Milli
and Hajizade to be detained for two months in pre-trial detention.

ARTICLE 19 is concerned that these events are another measure by the
Azerbaijani authorities to silence independent and opposition
journalists.

This is not the first time the Azerbaijani authorities have used
criminal charges, such as “hooliganism” to intimidate journalists
in cases considered to be politically motivated. In November 2007, the
editor-in-chief of opposition newspaper Azadliq, Ganimat Zahid, was
arrested and sentenced to four years in prison in March 2008. A
similar charge was used in the case of Yeni Musavat columnist Mahal
Ismayiloglu, who was convicted on 1 July 2009 and received a two-year
suspended sentence.

“It is unacceptable that these two men, who were subjected to an
unprovoked attack, should now face criminal charges,” comments Dr
Agnès Callamard, ARTICLE 19 Executive Director. “The authorities
are persecuting the victims, rather than the perpetrators, in a manner
which looks entirely politically motivated.”

Milli and Hajizade’s detention happens against a backdrop of other
disturbing actions by the Azerbaijani authorities, which have had a
negative impact on freedom of expression in the country. For example,
on 10 May 2009, police used physical force against four journalists
who were covering events related to the annual Flower Holiday, as well
as beating members of the public and detaining approximately 50
demonstrators. In addition, the Azerbaijani authorities have yet to
disclose the findings of their investigation into the killing of 13
people at the State Oil Academy in Baku on 30 April 2009. Journalists
attempting to investigate these killings were prevented by authorities
from accessing information.

The Government of Azerbaijan has ratified the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention on Human
Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and ARTICLE 19 calls on the
authorities to respect its commitments under international law. We
also request the authorities to immediately release Emin Milli and
Adnan Hajizade without charge, and to thoroughly investigate and
prosecute those responsible for assaulting them.